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Study: Low-Income Kids' Skills Decline by Age 14

8/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A UK study of the Millennium Cohort reveals a troubling trend: while high-achieving 5-year-olds from low-income families retain their cognitive skills until age 11, they face a sharp decline in school attitudes and performance by age 14. This decline not only affects their education but also threatens their chances for social mobility.

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Story summary

A UK study of the Millennium Cohort reveals a troubling trend: while high-achieving 5-year-olds from low-income families retain their cognitive skills until age 11, they face a sharp decline in school attitudes and performance by age 14. This decline not only affects their education but also threatens their chances for social mobility.