Predominantly white schools more likely to start in-person classes than mostly Black, Latino schools: analysis

Predominantly white schools are more likely to begin classes in-person this year than those with predominantly Black and Latino student populations, according to an analysis published Friday by The Associated Press and Chalkbeat.

The analysis, which included survey responses from 677 school districts covering 13 million students, found that most U.S. students will begin the school year online. The surveys were sent to the biggest school districts across categories established by the National Center for Education Statistics: urban, suburban, town and rural.

The responses showed that 79 percent of Hispanic students, 75 percent of Black students and 51 percent of white students won’t have the option of in-person learning this year.

The disparity was more stark in urban areas, where 87 percent of schools that are less than one-fourth white are having classes completely online. In urban schools that are more than 75 percent white, only 13 percent are having classes completely online. 

The survey also found that schools in areas President Trump won in 2016 are more likely to start classes in-person, underscoring partisan divides in reopening schools.

Trump and his administration officials have consistently argued that schools should reopen for in-person classes this fall, despite rising coronavirus cases in some parts of the country.

According to the AP and Chalkbeat analysis, 90 percent of schools in areas where Trump won by 15 percentage points or more are starting classes in-person or with a hybrid model.

Meanwhile, only 33 percent of schools in areas where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won by 15 points or more in 2016 are starting classes in-person or with a hybrid model.