Achievement in Inner-City Children

Some inner-city infants grow to be successful, self-sufficient adults. This study identified characteristics from early childhood that foster or impede favorable outcomes.

Subjects were 2694 children born to inner-city women enrolled in a collaborative perinatal study. Data collected was: 1) prospective observations (birth through 8 years) of neurologic and cognitive development, health, behavior, family and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and in an older group 2) completed interviews (age 27 to 33). A life course model of development identified significant characteristics and events associated with outcome: physical and mental health, healthy lifestyle, financial independence of public support, and emphasizing educational attainment of a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). The probability of a good outcome was estimated in the presence of combinations of the six variables most strongly associated with that outcome.

Among older subjects, 79% had a successful outcome for education, 60% for health, 70% for lifestyle, and 76% for financial independence. African-American subjects had more favorable outcomes than white for education and lifestyle, whites for financial outcome; health did not differ by race.

The conclusion was that substantial proportions of inner-city children become successful adults. Attention to improving public education, particularly language and reading skills, and the prevention of smoking and adolescent pregnancy are clearly indicated.

(Hardy, J., et al. Pediatrics 1997; 99:80-87)

COMMENT: The outlook for inner city students is not as bleak as some would have us believe. Who gets the lion’s share of the credit remains unanswered: family, schools, resilient kids, the village? - R.A.