Minorities at Private School

[Anonymous]

The private schools don't post that info. They might publicly discuss previous class percentages, but it would be a guess about the incoming Kindergarten class ratio. I schools where the numbers are very low, your kid could be it.

[Anonymous]

I would have no issuse if my child was the only in a her specific class but it would be a no go if she were the only in the entire Pre-K class. This would not surprise me if I lived in Kentucky, but we are in DC, and while from what I see it is still somewhat segregated it is still once of the most ethnically diverse cities that I have seen. (I have live in NYC and London). If this happens at school it means one of two things a) the school does not value diversity or b) parents do not want to send their kids there.

[Anonymous]

agree with pp. but it does happen in the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

OP: This all came up when I visited a "wonderful" private school in suburban MD (the people there really were nice). I noticed that there was not one African American child in grades PK-3. And I don't remember seeing any Asian children either. On the tour I mentioned this, and the tour guide said "Yes, you're right about that...but if you come, then we would have some!". I laughed to myself, but I wondered how I could be sure that my kids weren't going to be the only ones. I must say, other than that issue, I liked the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:agree with pp. but it does happen in the suburbs.

I meant DC proper (the 4 quadrants of the city) (see related post in off topic section).

Seriously though the "Uniqueness" of the suburbs is one of the reasons that I plan to limit my application to the 7 schools in the District with PK programs - I am still thinking about Sidwell (lower school in Bethesda).

[Anonymous]

As an African American parent who has been through the whole private school application process, I advise you to run, not walk, from that school! There are plenty of diverse private schools in DC (and a few in Md. and Va.) where having a diverse student body is important to the school and it's not hard to achieve. There are plenty of upper-income parents of color in DC and the suburbs, so if a school has so few minorities, it's because the school isn't making diversity a priority. And that flip comment!!!???? Boggles the mind. I would never send my kid there.

[Anonymous]

This is a great topic; one so many families of color deal with daily. Insuring our children get a great education while protecting their identity, culture, and sense of pride about who they are.

Families who have gone through the process please share schools that your families attend that truly understand the importance of diversity.

[Anonymous]

Our family (currently in NYC but considering relocating so touring NYC and DC preschool) is interested in a similar question. We are a lesbian couple with a daughter entering preschool this fall.

In addition to looking for racial diversity, we ask about family diversity (including LGBT headed families and single parent headed families). The way the school representatives answer the question is often very enlightening. We also ask specifically what they do to integrate diversity issues into the curriculum. We looked for evidence of books about racial and family diversity on display or within the libraries too. Some schools in NYC have these kinds of things very well evident within the classroom settings and the school environment as a whole.

Some schools have very supportive cultures that "walk the walk" about valuing diversity. Some, as I'm sure OP is aware, just talk the talk. From our perspective, the school's culture is as important as the actual presence of other lesbian mothers in the family body.

It's a very valid question and I find it surprising that there are parents who would question why the OP asked it.

[Anonymous]

I think that schools could improve a lot on this subject by hiring diverse staff. And by that I mean top notch teachers of diverse backgrounds. Then, when a minority family comes to that school it might be easier to send their child because they have a role model. That in turn will attract more minority families b/c "see there is another African-American child" etc.

[Anonymous]

Some schools have a funny definition of diversity. They will use every student that is of any slight version of a minority in their numbers. That might be why what you see is not close to the numbers they report. Also, for some schools, one African American student in 25 is enough. I can see what that occasional student does for the white students experiences. But what does that kind of environment do for that one African American child?
I have also heard that in some Christian schools, the school will report religious diversity by including kids who are half Jewish or any other faith. I call this diluted diversity.

[Anonymous]

PP, that definitely jibes with my experiences. On paper, most private schools claim a diversity rate of about 25%, but the picture is MUCH different when you actually go visit the school. Every school has their own definition of what "diversity" means. Best to go check it out for yourself. As I said earlier, if a DC area private school is not very diverse, it's because they don't want to be. And I'm not one who needs a lot of company, nor are my kids, but I'm not sending them to a school where they're going to feel isolated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some schools have a funny definition of diversity. They will use every student that is of any slight version of a minority in their numbers. That might be why what you see is not close to the numbers they report. Also, for some schools, one African American student in 25 is enough. I can see what that occasional student does for the white students experiences. But what does that kind of environment do for that one African American child?
I have also heard that in some Christian schools, the school will report religious diversity by including kids who are half Jewish or any other faith. I call this diluted diversity.

i disagree with part of this...if you are jewish or even part, then you are a minority. being jewish or even "half" jewish in america means you are a minority. being jewish is not just a religion it is an ethnicity as well, whether people like to admit that or not. that is why many jewish people have "jewish looking traits," the same as "italian features," etc...

[Anonymous]

The PP is full of it. Being half Jewish does NOT make one a minority, no matter how many physical "jewish" traits one has. Please.

[Anonymous]

Yes, being Jewish or part Jewish makes you a minority in some contexts....

It does certainly NOT make you a minority for this discussion here.

Oy Gevolt

[Anonymous]

The point is that these schools are sometimes overemphasizing their diversity. I think the previous comment about half Jewish children is about religious diversity.