What is race?
"Both race, which describes physical characteristics, and ethnicity, which encompasses cultural traditions such as language and religion, play pivotal and socially significant roles in people's lives. These aspects of identity inform how individuals see themselves and the world, how others perceive them, and how they relate to each other." (Psychology Today, 2019)
What does race look like in DC?
In the District of Columbia (DC), many students do not attend school with peers from other racial or ethnic groups, according to a recent study conducted by DC Policy Center. The racial and ethnic background of DC public school students has shifted over the past five years.* (See charts below.)
*Visit www.dcschoolreportcard.org to learn more about race at your school.
Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), 2018 DC School Report Card, District of Columbia Report
Why does race matter?
Years after slavery and Brown v. Board of Education, race continues to affect the quality of students' educational experience by determining who has access to the best resources and teachers, who graduates, and who goes to college. The majority of students in the District in both public and charter schools are African-American followed by Latinx. Therefore, the policies and decisions that are made in our schools affect mostly students of color. This is why it is crucially important for us to ensure that the impact of the decisions made by those in positions of power take into account the racial make-up of our schools.
