Islamic American, Gifted

Estimates of the total U.S. Muslim population are difficult to make, but rigorously controlled surveys place it somewhere between 1.9 to 2.8 million, with 36.8 percent between ages 5 and 15. Islamic population growth has accelerated establishment of private Islamic schools that foster Muslim children's religious and educational needs, with estimates indicating 250 to 300 such schools.

The acts of September 11, 2001, involved extremist Muslims, raising residual concern that Muslims constitute a threat to U.S. security. However, most students in Islamic schools are proud of their dual identity as Muslims and Americans. Muslim parents in the United States are often faced with the dilemma of wanting their children to be Americans involved fully in U.S. life, while maintaining their activity as good Muslims. Muslim students ...