The National Education Association reports that those in the lower 20 percent of household incomes are six times more likely to drop out of high school than those in the upper 20 percent. The strongest predictors of dropouts are lower incomes, family stress and a disjointed family structure, most commonly in the form of single-parent homes or broken homes. (see reference 1). Dealing with this problem can be difficult because of all the variables and the necessity of having the families take an active role in the education of the younger household members.
Finding out which students are low-income is not much of a problem in most countries. In the United States, for example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture runs the National School Lunch Program. (see reference 2). This program not only provides free or low-cost meals to those who meet income eligibility guidelines, but it allows schools to use the information to make other services available for free or reduced cost as well. These services include instrument rentals, athletic fee waivers and tutoring.
Those from low-income families who are able to get through high school and wish to attend college also have some options. Community colleges can drastically lower the cost of the first two years of college. These institutions are also options for those who want to spend two years to learn a trade. Students who wish to continue on to a four-year university to earn a bachelor's or higher degree also have that option.
The federal Pell Grant is an option for low-income students attending a certified degree program (see reference 3). While the cost of college may discourage some from attending, the Pell Grant program specifically seeks to serve lower- and middle-income students. While it will not entirely pay the cost of college, it can reduce the cost to students by thousands of dollars (see Resources below).
Students from low-income families can also look into scholarships. Some scholarships may offer the student a full ride, meaning all college expenses are paid, including books, tuition, room and board. There are scholarship programs specifically designed for lower-income students. The competition for these offerings, while still strong, may not be as fierce as for more general scholarships.
In the end, getting as much education as possible is to the benefit of all students, no matter what their families' income is. Those with bachelor's degrees earn $1 million more over a lifetime on average than a person who has only graduated from high school (see reference 4). Further, with higher unemployment rates, employers can be more selective in hiring, meaning the chances of being employed at all are much greater if you are a high school graduate, and even greater if you have a college degree.