Bright children from low-income homes lose cognitive edge in early secondary school

Bright children from low-income homes lose cognitive edge in early secondary school

A new UK study finds that bright 5-year-olds from low-income families match their affluent peers academically through primary school, but between ages 11 and 14, they face steep declines in motivation, behavior, mental health, and exam performance.

psypost.org

Researchers digging into the UK’s Millennium Cohort Study tracked bright 5-year-olds (the top 25% on early cognitive tests) from low- and high-income families all the way to age 17. They found that, until the end of primary school, disadvantaged high-achievers held pace with wealthier peers—but between ages 11 and 14 (the jump into secondary school) those from poorer homes showed a sharp drop in school engagement, behavior, mental health and grades.

The paper by John Jerrim and Maria Palma Carvajal (Research in Social Stratification and Mobility) argues that failing to support these early stars during a crucial school transition is a big reason social mobility stalls in the UK—and underscores how socioeconomic factors shape more than just test scores.