The proposal is being considered for academies and the government’s new free schools Ministers are considering allowing some schools in England to change their admissions procedures to favour children from poorer families.
The proposal could result in academies putting those who receive free school meals ahead of those who live nearby.
The idea is being discussed by the Department for Education.
A source close to Education Secretary Michael Gove says it is designed to reduce the gap in achievement between poorer children and better off pupils.
The source told the Press Association: “The central aim of the government’s education policy is making opportunity more equal.
“As part of our commitment to helping every child do better we’re introducing a pupil premium, which will mean more cash for the poorest children in all our schools.
“And we’re exploring how schools which wish to target their efforts on helping the poorest can be helped.”
Mr Gove is understood to have asked his department to “examine the feasibility” of introducing the admissions policy for the government’s new free schools and academy schools only.
BBC UK affairs correspondent Tom Symonds says competition for good schools is fierce and admissions procedures are often critical to a child’s chances of getting a place at the school of their choice.
Separate proposals for the pupil premium will mean less-well-off children attract higher funding, so schools taking more of them would see their incomes increase.
It would see up to £2,000 of extra funding made available at a school for each child who is eligible for free meals.
The government is expected to consider the plan for several more months before formally launching it.
Last month, Barnardo’s said schools should be required to take pupils in different ability groups in equal numbers to help poorer students succeed.
The children’s charity claimed its proposal, known as “fair banding”, could reduce social segregation in the school system.
It has long been argued that middle class parents are more able to “play” the admissions system than those from poorer backgrounds.
Mr Gove has said England has an “unbelievably complicated” schools admissions system, and a fair-banding system “had a role to play” in future.
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