Race and poverty affect test scores only through their effect on social capital.

Evidence

In fact, our analysis suggests that for some outcomes—particularly SAT scores—the impact of race, poverty, and adult education levels is only indirect. These factors seem to influence the level of social capital in a state, and social capital—not poverty or demographic characteristics per se—drives test scores. — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1053

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: If true, it reframes which causal levers matter for achievement gaps, pointing reform away from demographics toward civic infrastructure.
• XREF: connects to: Adult education levels barely affect child outcomes once social capital is held constant. — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1045; Sociological approaches insist race and ethnicity have autonomous, non-reducible effects; Personality and social situation affect prejudice only through ideological worldviews. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2479 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Sociological approaches insist race and ethnicity have autonomous, non-reducible effects #contradicts (0.85)
• Family background splits into financial, human, and social capital that affect achievement differently #expands (0.80) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 139
• Personality and social situation affect prejudice only through ideological worldviews. #corroborates (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2479
• Racial disparity in school punishment is structural and not explained by behavior or poverty #contradicts (0.75) — , The Rod and the Child, 7420
• Life chances of blacks now depend more on class than race #qualifies (0.72)