Educational Disparity in the Bay Area
by: Kaylene Eyring
It is no secret that Silicon Valley prides itself on academic excellence. Although it is applauded and students are recognized for their academic achievements, it is also expected, creating a viciously competitive environment where thousands of students compete for spots at the top universities in the nation. In a culture defined by continuous progress and development, there is a significant emphasis on success from a young age, creating a heavy weight of stress on high school students as they are expected already to be the paradigm of technological advancement and social change. These students are expected to be the best, and their socioeconomic background directly impacts their future opportunities.
There is a direct correlation between what part of Silicon Valley a student is from and their academic performance. The REACH Foundation is dedicated to minimizing this difference and cultivating an environment of educational equity. Families from a lower income are traditionally overlooked, as more affluent parents afford tutoring and even private school for their children, propelling them far ahead of their peers in ways that most have difficulties competing with. Our goal is to reduce this gap to ensure that all students receive equitable opportunities to receive higher education.
Due to lower-income students being especially prevalent in East San Jose, the REACH Foundation is focusing on where this movement is needed the most. In an area where most of the residents live at the poverty line in an unstable and constantly evolving economy, high schoolers struggle to afford university in a school district where there is simply very little funding to support the needs of these kids. Underfunded and overworked, schools struggle on focusing on the individual students, which is exactly the area in which the REACH Foundation excels.
We aim to reduce the difference in resources between these students. Most are hard-working, resilient people of color, and they all deserve the chance to receive higher education. The children of East San Jose are victimized by the severe educational disparity within the Bay Area, and as most of them are first-generation students whose families work very hard for low wages, they are left with few avenues for additional aid. Most are English learners, causing them to work twice as hard for frustrating results.
Our foundation is poised to help these students. We are committed and ready to bridge the gap between the high schoolers of Silicon Valley and fund diligent students as they prepare for and begin their college journeys. Although every child deserves equal opportunities, this is not the reality for socioeconomically disadvantaged students in East San Jose. This is where we have committed to enacting real change because we know that when we invest in our children, we are also investing in the future. As a society that values progress so much, these children are undervalued, and they are the face of our future. By funding and mentoring these wonderful, hard-working students, we are reducing the opportunity gap with each individual we help on their path to success.