This report chronicles the experiences of high-achieving lower-income students during elementary school, high school, college, and graduate school. Millions of high-achieving lower-income students are found in urban, suburban, and rural communities all across America, reflecting the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of the nation's schools, These students drop out of high school at very low rates, and more than 90 percent enter college. However, there are far fewer lower-income students achieving at the highest levels than there should be, they disproportionately fall out of the high-achieving group during elementary and high school, they rarely rise into the ranks of high achievers during those periods, and far too few graduate from college or go on to graduate school. The report discusses new and original research on this population of students. Findings come from three federal databases that during the past 20 years have tracked students in elementary and high school, college, and graduate school. Findings are important for policymakers, educators, business leaders, the media, and civic leaders to understand and explore as schools, communities, states, and the nation consider ways to ensure that all children succeed. Four appendices are included: (1) Data Sources and Definitions; (2) Demographics; (3) Persistence and Improvement Rates: Methodology and Remarks; and (4) College Entry and Graduation Rates. A bibliography is included.(Contains 71 endnotes, 11 figures and 11 tables.)