Disengagement affects low-income students more than others.

The consequences of disengagement are more serious for low-income students: When students from advantaged backgrounds become disengaged, they may learn less than they could, but they usually get by or they get second chances. … In contrast, when students … in high poverty, urban high schools become disengaged, they are less likely to graduate and consequently face severely limited opportunities … [including] unemployment, poverty, poor health, and involvement in the criminal justice system. (National Research Council, 2004, p. 1) (View Highlight)