Kariuki, Patrick2022-04-192022-04-192022-04-18http://hdl.handle.net/11558/6392The purpose of this study was to compare the academic achievement of low-income students who attended preschool and those who did not to determine if preschool attendance benefits low-income students academically. The participants of this study consisted of 2nd grade students from a local Title 1 elementary school in Johnson City, Tennessee. Data were collected using parents' questionnaire to obtain demographical data. Student’s academic performance was determined by STAR test scores, ELA checkpoint scores, and Math scores from the beginning of the year. Data collection also included obtaining information from the district about which students qualified for free or reduced lunch to determine income level. The results of this study suggests that academic benefits of students who attend preschool over those who do not attend wanes as the students progress through the grade levels. The results indicated no significant difference between the students who attended preschool and those who did not attend on their scores in STAR test, ELA checkpoint and math.en-USPreschoolAcademic achievement2nd gradeLow-incomeThesis