Demographic Divide in U.S. Schools

The demographic divide in schools reflects the disparities among groups of students based on their race, ethnicity, income, gender, age, religion, immigration, and other factors. Demographic data provide a statistical data description of the population of a school, a city, a county, a region, a state, a country, or the world. The disparities that exist among groups in the quality of education, funding of schools, educational attainment, graduation rates, participation in advanced courses, and quality of teachers result in a demographic divide in U.S. schools in which some students have access to better educational resources than other students. The changing demographics of students should inform curriculum development, support for students, hiring of staff, and educational policy to ensure that all students are effectively served.