The Widening Academic Achievement Gap Between the Rich and the Poor: New Evidence and Possible Explanations Sean F. Reardon Stanford University July 2011 Forthcoming in Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances (Russell Sage Foundation, 2011) I appreciate the thoughtful feedback and comments from Richard Murnane, Greg Duncan, Sandy Jencks, and participants in seminars at the Brookings Institution, Stanford University, University of Virginia, Teachers College (Columbia University), New York University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Harvard University, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University. This work would not have been possible without support from the Brookings Institution, the Russell Sage Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation, as well as excellent research assistance from Demetra Kalogrides, Anna Katyn Chmielewski, Elena Grewal, and Matt Kasman. Any errors are my own.