For children living in poverty, education is often their single greatest chance to reach their full potential. A good school can provide the foundation they need to succeed, despite the challenges they face. This project explores academic resilience—the ability of socioeconomically disadvantaged students to succeed in school against the odds. We seek to understand what key factors enable disadvantaged students to thrive academically. How do students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, yet with similar achievement level, approach and solve challenging tasks differently? By analyzing data from international large-scale assessment, we aim to uncover critical insights that can shape educational policies and practices aimed at promoting equity and quality in education. Reducing achievement gaps between students from high- and low-income families not only benefits individuals but also advances equity, sustainability and social justice in the larger society