The United States places great importance on education and continues to be a leader in education. If the United States wants to continue on this path, it must carefully consider the achievement gap that has been created and is growing. In a system where 34% of Black students are retained in high school and are more likely to drop out before earning a high school diploma, it is essential to understand what has caused this gap and how to help close it. When African Americans first came to this country, education was not something they could do, they had to wait years and years to even learn to write without there being any consequences. When the opportunity arose for African Americans to receive an education and schools were created for them and by them, there are still obstacles for them, with the possibility of schools losing accreditation and financial support for students. Policies, laws and initiatives really need to become priorities to help African Americans ensure they can succeed and achieve the same goals and lives as everyone else. It is also very important to ensure that there are capable, understanding and qualified teachers teaching the students. Teachers play such an important role in students' lives, helping them not to succeed in primary and secondary school, but also to continue their journey to places of higher learning. This is a problem that can be solved as long as we are serious about true equality and opportunity