Changing Demographics and the Education Gap

The demographic landscape of the United States has shifted dramatically in the last decade or so. The proportion of the population that is at a school and college-going age is at the highest it has been in a long time. In addition, the ethnic background of students has also changed significantly. Because of this, the educational gap today is more pronounced than it has ever been.

In 1990, Hispanics represented about 10 per cent of the total high school and college student population. By 2015 this figure is expected to have risen to a massive 21 per cent. In the same time-frame, the Asians student population is expected to increase from three percent to six percent.

Statistics also show that Asians are more likely to advance to third level education than students from any other ethnic background. However, Hispanic students do not fare well in this regard. So, it can be seen that the extent of the education achievement gap isn't just about what is happening in our schools, but what is happening in society in general.

In addition, the demographics in various states in the United States can vary quite significantly. For example, by 2015 over half the students in California are expected to be Hispanic, while 14 percent will be from an Asian background.

While these figures may not be deadly accurate, they give a good indication as to where the potential problems in the United States' education system lie. The fact that the Hispanic population is the country's fastest growing ethnic community is cause for some concern. And the fact that different states have different demographics suggests that the decisions that need to be taken to solve the problem can not be taken at Federal level, but need to be made at State or even local level.

In the United States and worldwide, society is changing. In the past it may have been possible to pick up work easily enough without finishing high school. This is becoming increasingly difficult and if students from certain ethnic and economic backgrounds are not making it through second-level education, they are likely to become increasingly marginalized as adults.

It is fairly well accepted at this stage that there is no quick fix for the education gap, nor are we likely to find one in the future. And while the Federal government may not be in the best position to best decide on how the country's students to be thought, it can ensure that schools are receiving the funding and equipment they need to close the education gap. The rest may need to be done on a local, or even a school, level.

 

Written by: Frank J Klein - CIO

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