The Math Achievement Gap: Socioeconomic Factors and the Promise of Educational Games.
- Jacquie Carroll
- Nov 14
- 3 min read
Understanding the Math Achievement Gap
As I noted in a prior blog, the Math Achievement Gaps has been all over the news in recent times. The Math Achievement Gap refers to persistent disparities in mathematical proficiency between different groups of students, often defined by socioeconomic status, race, or geographic location. In recent years, this gap has received heightened attention from educators, parents, and policymakers, especially as standardized test scores continue to reveal these differences in student performance across the United States.
Personally, I believe that at its core, the Math Achievement Gap is not merely an issue of academic performance, but a reflection of broader inequities that shape opportunity and success for millions of children. Access to resources and support is needed to close this gap!
The Impact of Time and Resources
Two of the most significant factors contributing to the Math Achievement Gap are the differentials in resources and time available to students outside of school. Affluent families have the opportunity and are more likely to financially invest in after-school programs, math camps, and one-on-one tutoring, all of which provide valuable opportunities for additional practice and conceptual understanding. According to a 2023 study published in Educational Researcher, students in the highest income quartile spend an average of 50% more time on math-related activities outside of class than those in the lowest quartile. That time on task makes a difference.
Moreover, parents in higher SES brackets often possess the time and educational background to support their children’s learning at home. They may engage in math-related games, help with homework, and encourage a growth mindset toward mathematics. In contrast, families facing economic hardship may struggle to provide similar support, either due to work schedules, limited educational resources, or language barriers. These differences compound over years, resulting in widening achievement gaps that are difficult to close with traditional classroom instruction alone.
Let's Look at the Data
Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that students from low-income families consistently score lower in math compared to their more affluent peers. For example, in the 2022 NAEP mathematics assessment, only 18% of fourth-grade students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch achieved proficiency, compared to 45% of non-eligible students. This trend persists through middle and high school, with gaps often widening over time.
Socioeconomic status (SES) influences academic achievement in multifaceted ways, both positive and negatively. For example, affluent students typically have greater access to resources—such as high-quality schools, experienced teachers, private tutoring, and extracurricular enrichment—that support their learning. On the other hand, students from low-income households often face challenges such as underfunded schools, larger class sizes, limited access to technology and supplemental instruction.
Strategies to Level the Playing Field
Recognizing the limitations of conventional approaches we need to explore innovative, low-cost interventions to help bridge the Math Achievement Gap. One promising strategy involves the use of educational games designed to reinforce mathematical concepts in an engaging, accessible format. Rather than simply adding more worksheets for example, games immerse students in the useful and authentic application of mathematical functions.
As such, GET 9 and similar games such as Yahtzee offer several key advantages. First, they are inexpensive and require minimal materials, making them accessible to schools and families with limited budgets. Second, the games’ structures encourage repeated practice and immediate feedback, which are essential for building both confidence and competence in math. Third, educational games can be played in informal settings, such as at home or in after-school programs, lowering barriers to participation and expanding learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
A growing body of research supports the effectiveness of educational games in improving math achievement, particularly among underserved students. For instance, a 2023 article in Journal of Educational Psychology found that students who regularly engaged in math-focused games showed significant gains in arithmetic skills compared to control groups. The impact was most pronounced in low-resource settings, where games provided a rare opportunity for interactive, personalized learning. While more large-scale, longitudinal studies are needed, the early evidence suggests that low-cost educational games can play a meaningful role in narrowing the Math Achievement Gap—especially when paired with broader efforts to address systemic inequities.
Let’s Play and Close the Math Achievement Gap—Together!
The Math Achievement Gap remains a complex challenge rooted in socioeconomic disparities and unequal access to time and resources. However, the rise of accessible, low-cost educational games like GET 9 offers a hopeful path forward. By integrating these authentic learning tools into homes, classrooms, and community programs, educators and families can provide all students—not just the affluent—with opportunities to build mathematical skills and confidence. The evidence is clear: when educational opportunities are expanded and made accessible, the potential for growth is limitless.
NAEP 2022 Mathematics Report NAEP Mathematics: Mathematics Results
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