Public schools may seem to be the same across the board, and a public education is seen as an equivalent baseline across the country. However, that is not the case. Even in New Jersey alone, depending on location, the public education system can vary greatly. Even if the majority of a town is not minority preponderance, the education system varies greatly due to economic strengths and the financially advantaged students in these schools.
As mentioned, without comparing a predominantly all white school to a majority-minority school in another town, we can focus on how economic demographics can play a big role in part of the education system. Even in a fairly middle class and mostly white neighborhood, fellow peers in that school may receive a fairly different education system from their economically disadvantaged peers.
Although these students share the same facilities and resources, the difference in economic backgrounds can result in inequalities in a public education system. Many schools offer AP classes and even with regular classes, some students may have the financial resources to achieve a better quality of education due to out of pocket tutoring that is done off campus. Those who are economically disadvantaged may not fair the same education to their advanced peers who are often sent for private tutoring after school or even taking college courses set-up by their parents so they will be further ahead.
School districts play a big role in the education system, but because of different towns and different economic backgrounds, there will always be a difference in the way students are taught, as can be seen in standardized testing.
Often times, people compare the education system of different communities to disadvantaged minorities. However, it is not necessarily a minority driven problem in some cases. If we look at test scores in majority white neighborhoods, we can see it is not just a problem for minority disadvantaged communities and school districts. For example, Monmouth County, NJ has a demographic of 84.6% white, with 11.6% being Latino or Hispanic, 5.6% being African American, and 5.7% Asian. The median household income is also $95,699. In New Jersey, the best combined SAT scores in the state for 2019 is from Monmouth County Vocational school, with a combined test score of 1376. Monmouth County Vocational school also has a student demographic of 66% White, 25% Asian, and 3% Black.
When you compare another town located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, such as Brick Township, with a median household income of $74,295 and a demographic of 85% white, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 2% African American, and 1.9% Asian. The standardized testing can vary greatly, even if it is still a majority white community. As mentioned, Monmouth County Vocational school scored 1376 out of the highest possible score of 1600 coming in at number 1 out 307 schools. Meanwhile, Brick Township school scored 532 which is ranked 177 out of 307 schools.
Economically speaking, towns with a higher median household income usually fare better in terms of public education. To compare, the number 3 out of 307 schools tested is located in Tenafly, New Jersey with a score of 1340. The median household income is $153,906 with a demographic of 58.2% being White, 26% Asian, and 11% Hispanic or Latino. Though the demographic is a bit more diversified in this town, we can see how much of a difference there is economy wise.
As many can see, the public education system can vary from town to town, even if the demographics are not dominated by a minority group. Though statistically speaking, many towns that are have more disadvantaged minorities do rank lower than their more advanced peers. Each school that is public has different resources and materials that are not the same across the board, even if it is located in the same state with predominantly the same race. Our public education system here in the U.S. shows inequality in the system and unfair education treatments for their students even if it is deemed public.
