Why College Readiness Is Still Deeply Unequal—And How Peer Advising Can Help
source: LINKEDIN POST
In a striking visualization of Texas public education data from 2023, each dot on the scatterplot represented a high school. One axis plotted poverty concentration—the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. The other showed the percentage of students meeting college readiness benchmarks on the SAT or ACT.
The pattern was unmistakable: as poverty concentration increased, readiness decreased.
This is not new. Researchers and educators have been tracking this relationship for decades. But what makes this 2023 snapshot compelling is that it shows how much things have improved since 2005, (granted that bar was lowered however there is an improvement) even in the face of deep structural inequality.
Testing Benchmarks Have Shifted, But the Core Problem Remains
Over the past two decades, benchmarks for what qualifies as “college-ready” have changed. In Texas, the SAT threshold moved from 1110 (Reading + Math) to 480 in Reading/Writing and 530 in Math. For the ACT, the threshold moved from 23 overall to section-specific metrics.
While this means more students now cross the readiness threshold on paper, the relationship between poverty and performance is still persistent. In high-poverty schools, students continue to face more barriers to accessing strong guidance, tailored tutoring, and college application support.
That’s where Pathways comes in.
How Pathways Levels the Playing Field
Pathways is a peer-based advisory platform designed to give every student access to high-quality, relatable, and timely guidance—no matter where they go to school or what resources they have.
Instead of assigning advisors, Pathways lets students:
- Choose the peer advisor who best matches their goals (e.g., SAT scorer, major, school acceptance)
- Ask real questions about what worked, what didn’t, and how to manage the pressure of applications
- Learn from near-peers who just navigated the same process and succeeded
This isn't theoretical. For example, a student in a Title I school in Texas can consult with someone who was in a similar environment and went on to earn admission at a T20 school. That insight is powerful, actionable, and rooted in shared experience.
Real Support for Students in High-Poverty Schools
In many under-resourced schools, counselors are overwhelmed—sometimes managing 300 to 500 students each. Essays, extracurricular planning, testing strategy, and financial aid forms often fall through the cracks.
Through Pathways, students can book low-cost consultations with peers who’ve walked the walk. Some are at Ivy League schools. Others are in competitive BS/MD programs. Many have overcome the exact same socioeconomic challenges that plague the bottom of those Texas scatterplots.
And for students who can't afford premium guidance? We’re building scholarship and sponsorship programs to ensure cost isn't a barrier to access.
Education May Be Improving—But Access Still Needs Help
While it's encouraging that more Texas students today are meeting college readiness thresholds compared to 2005, the data still tells a hard truth: systemic inequality hasn’t gone away.
What’s changed is our ability to scale support in smarter, more personalized ways. Peer advising is one of those ways.
At Pathways, we believe that guidance shouldn’t depend on ZIP code. Every student deserves the insights that can help them unlock opportunities—and that insight often comes best from someone just a few steps ahead on the same journey.
Join the Movement
If you're a high-achieving student, a college applicant, or a recent grad from a competitive program, join Pathways. Be the guide you didn’t have.
If you're a parent or educator looking for resources for your students—especially those in high-poverty areas—Pathways can be your bridge to quality advising that speaks to real lived experience.