Such criticism is often loudest in more affluent, high-achieving communities.
In high-achieving communities like Palo Alto, that translates into students who are overwhelmed by additional homework for Advanced Placement classes, outside activities such as sports or social service projects, and in some cases, part-time jobs, as well as peer, parental and community pressures to excel.
Poitra received The Achievement Award Program (TAAP) scholarship, which provides high-achieving, community-minded students from low-income backgrounds significant funding to attend Cal.
In fact, research shows that graduates of four-year programs who rank near the bottom of their class make no more money than high-achieving community college graduates who earn associate's degrees, according to Northwestern University sociologist James Rosenbaum.
"You have to correct the misconception that people will earn $600,000 to $1 million more [over a lifetime] with a college degree". In fact, research shows that graduates of four-year programs who rank near the bottom of their class make no more money than high-achieving community college graduates who earn associate's degrees, according to Northwestern University sociologist James Rosenbaum.
Even the most selective colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools, admit high-achieving community college students into their programs every single year.
A turning point for me was being selected as a Kaplan Educational Foundation scholar, joining their program for high-achieving community college students from disadvantaged backgrounds seeking to transfer to competitive four-year institutions.
The students who are arguing that the amount of stress and pressure in Palo Alto are a normal part of high school and growing up likely don't have a context of what life is like outside of a high-achieving community.
In two decades, it had gone from a quiet hamlet of 3,000 nestled in the cotton and soy fields 20 miles north of Dallas to a high-achieving bedroom community of 100,000, its growth fueled by Eastern professionals chasing the Southwest's newfound prosperity.
His vision was to work with high-achieving students from disadvantaged communities throughout their secondary school careers to help them acquire the skills they need to win places at top universities.
Many Asian-American New Yorkers have objected to eliminating the exam, arguing that the mayor's plan would deny admission to hard-working and high-achieving children in their communities.
