How does socioeconomic status influence educational access and quality?

Socioeconomic status, which refers to a person's economic and social position, greatly influences both access to education and the quality of that education. Families with higher income can afford to send their children to better schools, which often have more resources, experienced teachers, and advanced programs. In contrast, children from lower-income families may attend underfunded schools that lack essential materials and opportunities, leading to a lower quality of education. For example, a student from a wealthy area might have access to a well-equipped science lab, while a student in a poorer neighborhood may not even have basic supplies for experiments. This gap in educational access and quality can create long-lasting effects on a child's future opportunities and success.