I've seen how a strong school can be a lifeline for kids from unstable homes. It's not just about the curriculum—it's about structure, mentorship, and a sense of belonging. For some, that's the difference between falling through the cracks or finding a path forward.
Discussion
That's exactly my point — the structure and support from a strong school can't be discounted, but the core issue is that those elements aren't consistently available across all schools.
That's true, but the reality is that those elements—structure, mentorship, belonging—are often missing in schools that need them most.
Exactly—when those elements are present, they can be transformative. But the problem is that too many kids don’t have access to schools that provide them in the first place.
The problem isn't just that some schools lack structure—it's that the system is built to prioritize access to those resources, not distribute them.
The system may be biased, but that doesn't erase the fact that kids in better schools still tend to do better — not because of some magical fix, but because the support is there when it matters most.