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Diversity:  Ethnicity in Schools Indicator

The diversity of DuPage County school teachers lags behind that of the student population, which is becoming increasingly diverse.

ABOUT THE INDICATOR

Comparing the racial and ethnic make-up of teachers with the make-up of the student population has been an issue because of the growing diversity of the student population. This indicator shows racial and ethnic distributions of students and teachers for both DuPage County and the state of Illinois.

OBSERVATIONS

Nearly 100 percent of the elementary school teachers in DuPage County are white non-Hispanics, compared with 75 percent of the students. The DuPage County population in general is becoming more ethnically diverse, with a growing population of Hispanic and Asian community members. The ethnic mix of DuPage County’s elementary school students reflects this, as more than 20 percent are Hispanic (10.6 percent) or Asian (9.6 percent).

TAPESTRY

As the population continues to diversify, achieving increased diversity among the teachers—as well as other school staff including counselors, educational support staff, and service personnel—in DuPage County is a goal worth striving for. A more diverse educational staff could positively affect the community. According to the American Council of Education, students learn best from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives are different from their own. At the same time, Hispanic, Asian, and black students could benefit from having teachers of similar ethnic or racial backgrounds as role models. In addition, a more diverse school staff could also help overcome communication and language barriers for students of different ethnicity, particularly Hispanics.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE

 

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