Suburban schools in majority white towns (Chicago, Homewood: magnet schools, live in, stats)

[Chicagoland60426]

I notice in majority white suburban towns that have a noticeable minority population, the schools rarely reflect the community. Now look at Flossmoor and Homewood. Homewood is 73% white and Flossmoor is 61% white, but all(excpet one) of Flossmoor schools are over 60% black. H-F High school was over 60% white in 2000, mysteriously its 35%(and steady shrinking) white according to 2008. Is this another form of white flight in schools or is it culturally white households have less kids? Or is it a combination of both?

[ajolotl]

I suspect we all know the answer to this question. Look at Morgan Park High School for an extreme example (within city limits but that doesn't really matter).

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I suspect we all know the answer to this question. Look at Morgan Park High School for an extreme example (within city limits but that doesn't really matter).

Morgan Park community is 67% black, so I kind of expect the high school to be black. But then again Morgan Park is like 30% white and Beverly is majority white, but Morgan Park is only 2% white and 92% black. The numbers don't add up and make you wonder. It not like Morgan & Beverly are bad communities.

[ajolotl]

The Morgan Park high school district is not drawn around the boundaries of the Morgan Park community. It embraces an area that is at least 50% white, probably more.

[chet everett]

The stats on demographics of the total population generally reflects a large number of households that do not have school age children. While much of this non-school age population is elderly there is also a fair amount that are simply childless as well as those too young to be in school.

No conspiracy, just the facts. Afterall school age is basically a 12-14 year span...

[ajolotl]

Almost every white person in Beverly will tell you the same thing -- the ONLY thing that don't like about the community (other than The Plaza) is that there is no public high school that people who actually live in the community feel comfortable going to. Quite a few people move when the oldest kid hits 9th grade. Many others use private and magnet schools. (Some but not all blacks will say the same thing.)

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The stats on demographics of the total population generally reflects a large number of households that do not have school age children. While much of this non-school age population is elderly there is also a fair amount that are simply childless as well as those too young to be in school.

No conspiracy, just the facts. Afterall school age is basically a 12-14 year span...

This is not the correct explanation in general. The reason is that white people prefer not to send their kids to schools that have too many blacks. It isn't a conspiracy, just a preference. I'm not passing judgment on this preference, just point out that fact that it exists and explains most of these discrepancies.

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

This is not the correct explanation in general. The reason is that white people prefer not to send their kids to schools that have too many blacks. It isn't a conspiracy, just a preference. I'm not passing judgment on this preference, just point out that fact that it exists and explains most of these discrepancies.

Yeah but when does it become a school with too many blacks...A school that's 5%, 10%, 15% black? Are people thinking 'darn we have to move because the school is becoming more diverse' or are they moving because their child's education is at stake?

[ajolotl]

People have written papers about "tipping points" where they specify numbers. To me that's sort of ridiculous. I'm sure every situation is unique in its details. Point though is that the dynamics are unstable once the black population is non-trivial and the trend tends to feed on itself. I know there are cases where the community stabilizes but that's more of an exception to the rule.

I'm not saying that it HAS to be this way, just that it's the reality in most areas. For whatever reason people don't like to admit it, though.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The stats on demographics of the total population generally reflects a large number of households that do not have school age children. While much of this non-school age population is elderly there is also a fair amount that are simply childless as well as those too young to be in school.

No conspiracy, just the facts. Afterall school age is basically a 12-14 year span...

Morgan Park High school is only 2% white, C'mon that is way too low for it to be close to Beverly. Lets be honest that there is a white flight in Chicago and suburban public schools. All you have to do is look at the school demographics from 2000-2008.

Look at H-F high school in Flossmoor. The school went from being over 60% white in 2000 to 35% white in a matter of 7-8 years. And that number is shrinking. Ironically Flossmoor & Homewood are both over 60% & 70% white community wise. Imagine if you are a teacher and your classroom went from white to black in 7 years. If this trend keeps up, H-F will no longer be diverse.

The childless households is another factor, but it feel like the area have to be 90% white in order for the schools to be majority white.