This study was to find the characteristics in the mathematical achievement of multi-cultural
students, North Korean defectors and students with Low-SES in order to get the direction for the
future study of multi-cultural education Multi-cultural students (n=226), North Korean Defectors
(n=218) and students with Low-SES (n=189) participated in the study with a comparison group
of the general students(n=445). About 30 items out of 100 test items selected from the National
Assessments of Basic Academic Skills Test and the National Educational Achievement Test since 2004
were used to test the lower and upper graders of the elementary school. The results showed that as
we predicted, multi-cultural students, North Korean Defectors and students with Low-SES were
lower, compared to the comparison group. The fact that the ability of North Korean defectors was
significantly lower, compared to the other two groups, might have been caused by lack of experience
on the basic standards of mathematics.