It would be interesting to know what percentage of students from low income families attending highly selective colleges came from high performing school/home environments. Examples:
- High performing school has a low income part of town in its attendance zone, so some low income students attend that school.
- Student did well enough to be placed in a high performing magnet school or into an honors cohort in school.
- Low income parents are highly educated but either chose low paying professions or are unable to work to the usual income potential due to disability, non-recognition of foreign credentials of immigrant parents, or some such, but are able to guide and keep the student on a college prep academic path (including getting on the college admissions express train in 11th grade instead of waiting until 12th grade).
- Student attends an academically elite private school on scholarship / financial aid, perhaps knowing about it (and possibly getting scholarship / financial aid) due to parent being employed there.