Student Ethnicity Analysis in Public Schools

“General High School” holds 2000 students each day and belongs to the State’s second largest school district. This suburban institution is a Class A school (determined by enrollment numbers) that spans grades nine through twelve. A new addition was recently added giving the new library expansive room to grow a collection of technology, which as of now is hardly utilized. At passing time the common areas are filled with chatter and the carpeted halls muffle the hurried footsteps. The classroom doors close promptly at the bell so if one is caught on the wrong side they should prepare for a security guard interrogation. Other than for hall monitors, the security staff is usually dormant, for the area is relatively safe. The local crime rate is minimal and the ethnicity rate is predominately Caucasian, ranking at 94%, while the State of Michigan average is only 72% Caucasian. African Americans compile only 2% (State average 18%) but the ethnicity that stands out the most at General High School are Asian Americans. This was only noticed because they had their own lunch table and their own conversations in the halls, and their own section of desks in the classroom. The isolation made me curious so I chose to observe one such student for this class assignment. Throughout the school day this Asian American was followed to observe his interactions with fellow students and most importantly the interactions with teachers.