ISC Insights

In This Issue:

• Raising Social and Racial Awareness

• Spotlight on ISC Services: Enrollment Management

Mini-Survey:

Demographic Sustainability
Please choose the answer that best represents your thoughts and attitudes
about demographic sustainability.

1. My school tries its best to admit students of different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Agree.

Disagree.

I am not sure.

It is not an important issue.

2. My school considers having racial/ethnic diversity as …

Essential to a positive learning environment.

Important but it doesn’t really tackle the issue.

Not important; We don't intentionally admit students by race.

3. Is there a difference between a "diverse" environment and a "multicultural" environment?

Yes. Please explain:

No.

Thank you for participating in our mini-survey!

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Spotlight on ISC Services: Enrollment Management

As enrollment for the 2007-08 school year, and the importance of tuition revenue moves to the forefront, a school's strategy for enrollment management (marketing; enrollment; retention) must be sound and effective. It is ISC's experience and strong belief that to maintain a healthy and effective relationship between student numbers, faculty requirements and tuition revenue, a long-term "Enrollment Management" strategy must be in place.

To explore how ISC might assist you in developing such an "Enrollment Management" strategy for your school, please contact either:

Dave Skillen at 678-259-8479
or drskillen@isc-erh.com; or

Ted Lingenheld at 919-264-8636 or eclingenheld@isc-erh.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Addressing Demographic Sustainability

Over the last ten years, independent schools have become more inclusive and representative of the school-aged population in their communities in both socioeconomic and racial contexts. It has become clear that most minority students have had to make some serious sacrifices in order to survive in an independent school environment. Is your school addressing the heterogeneous needs and experiences of your school community? How?

This issue of Insights provides various resources that address the issue of diversity at independent schools. As NAIS suggests, we also believe that tackling the issue of demographic sustainability wisely will help your school thrive in the 21^st century.

Raising Social and Racial Awareness

As your school’s tuition increases, how do you still attract middle- and low-income families? The following article features some schools that are struggling to keep the increasing need for financial aid, rising costs, and enrollment management balanced.

Link to article
Source: Strauss, V. (2006). $26,000 Cost Pushes Up Barriers to Area Private Schools. The Washington Post Company, April.

This presentation was given at a NAIS People of Color conference and challenges schools to incorporate the importance of diversity in their mission statements. Some of the authors’ findings indicate that even though some schools do mention it, few really embark on what they say.

Link to presentation
Source: McGlone, J. & Ruiz, C. (2005). Diversity and the Independent School. NAIS People of Color Conference, Texas, December 2005.

While many consider the recruitment tactics used by Durham Academy in North Carolina as unconventional, the school views them as necessary to truly becoming more diverse.

Link to article
Source: Hannah-Jones, N. (2006). Private Schools Seek Key to Diversity. The News &Observer, The News & Observer Publishing Company, February.

In developing a multicultural school community, the following article discusses the importance of talking about racism, whiteness, and privilege. As a step to ending racism in schools, educators must explore white identity and understand how larger systems of oppression are functioning in their schools.

Link to article
Source: Denevi, E. (2004). Exploring White Racial Identity, Privilege, and Racism. Independent School, Summer 2004.

How does your school educate and assess your students of color? Are subtle cultural factors related to student attitudes and teacher expectations considered when your school examines student achievement patterns?

Link to article
Source: Noguera, P. & Akom, A. (2000). The Significance of Race in the Racial Gap in Academic Achievement. Motion Magazine.

Top

Education Statistics

U.S. Population by Race

Private School Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity in U.S. (2000)

The DiversityData project identifies metropolitan area indicators of diversity and quality of life for various racial and ethnic population groups. This site provides a breakdown of private school enrollment in 331 metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Link to data
Source: DiversityData. (2000). Private School Share of Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity.

Trends in Private School Enrollments

The National Center for Education Statistics provides a number and percentage distribution of students in private schools by race/ethnicity and selected school characteristics for 2003-2004.

Link to data
Source: Broughman, S.P., and Swain, N.L. (2006). Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results From the 2003–2004 Private School Universe Survey (NCES 2006-319), tables 7 and 13. Data from U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey (PSS), 2003–04.