How family background shapes
educational performance over time
Most deprived
Least deprived
Initial achievement
Cognitive achievement score
80
High
70
60
50
Average
40
30
Low
20
10
Age
0
7
11
16
18
14
University
Children of US families receiving welfare benefits hear only 28% of the number of words heard by children of professional families
Millions of words heard in four years
Professional families
45
Working class families
26
Families on benefits
13
How family background shapes
educational performance over time
Most deprived
Least deprived
Initial achievement
Cognitive achievement score
80
High
70
60
50
Average
40
30
Low
20
10
Age
0
7
11
14
16
18
University
Children of US families receiving welfare benefits hear only 28% of the number of words heard by children of professional families
Millions of words heard in four years
Professional families
45
Working class families
26
Families on benefits
13
How family background shapes educational performance over time
Most deprived
Least deprived
Initial achievement
Cognitive achievement score
80
High
70
60
50
Average
40
30
Low
20
10
Age
0
7
11
14
16
18
University
Children of US families receiving welfare benefits hear only 28% of the number of words heard by children of professional families
Millions of words heard in four years
Professional families
45
Working class families
26
Families on benefits
13