Given the utilitarian aspect of English, the subject has assumed a position of privilege in the educational scenario. Great efforts are employed towards the teaching and learning of English in schools. But the achievement level of the students greatly varies depending on the various factors. The objective of the present study is to compare the achievement level of English of the students belonging to the urban and rural areas of Murshidabad and explore the factors behind. To identify these factors, data was collected from 300 students belonging 10 schools both from urban and rural areas by means of a questionnaire. Secondary data was collected by reviewing closely linked existing literatures as well as websites and other written documents. The major findings of the study indicated that: in the case of English achievement, students in rural schools are weaker than the students in urban schools. Gender too affects the students’ performance in English. The parents of the urban children are better qualified and conscious about the academic achievement of their wards than those of the rural schools. Again the parents of the rural students are financially weaker and not able to spend enough on the educational expenses.