Many people argue that the fine performance of Asian-American students is due to the emphasis their parents place on education. Some go back further, and ascribe it to the Confucian beliefs that "all things are beneath contempt, only education is to be esteemed," or "you must study well to rise to be an official."
許多人認為，亞裔學生的優異表現，跟亞裔父母重視子女教育的態度有關，更深層的則可歸因到儒家文化中「萬般皆下品，唯有讀書高」、「學而優則仕」等士大夫觀念。