African-American Students and U.S. High Schools
(2007)
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Summary
By 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that about 50 percent of the U.S. population will be African-American, Hispanic, or Asian. Given these steep demographic shifts, the performance of students of color and the characteristics of the schools they attend are important factors that must concern all Americans. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, African-American students made up 16 percent of the public school population in 2004. These students, disproportionately concentrated in high-poverty, low-performing schools, are vulnerable to poor educational outcomes that undermine their chances for success in life.
