“Education is the Most POWERFUL Weapon We can Use to Change the World” - Nelson Mandela One Economy: Disparities in Education Disparities in Education Polk County enrolls a greater percentage of Black students than the state as a whole. In the 2015-2016 school year, 7,927 Black students were enrolled in Polk County public schools, representing 10 percent of the total Polk County PK12 student enrollment; the statewide number is 6 percent. In the Des Moines Independent School District, the proportion is even higher; Black students represent 18 percent of the district’s PK-12 student enrollment and account for 78 percent of all Black students in Polk County. This number has continued to trend down as African Americans and families of African descent have moved into Des Moines suburbs. Even more powerful is the women who made this movement even possible. Their efforts and sacrifices have changed the face of America; or at least it’s mask. In 2000, Des Moines Independent School District Black student enrollment represented 89 percent of total Black Polk County PK-12 student enrollment. The following table ranks all Polk County public school districts according to percentage Black student PK12 enrollment and the percentage change in Black PK-12 enrollment since 2000. The term “Black” in State of Iowa data is inclusive of African American students and students of African descent. The State of Iowa also collects enrollment data for immigrants as well. However, the term “immigrant” is inclusive of students of African descent, and thus is reflective of a broader diversity of ethnicities and nationalities. Among all Polk County school districts, Des Moines Independent School District enrolls the largest percentage of immigrant students at 4 percent of total 2015-2016 district K-12 student enrollment. This is a 20 percent increase in immigrant enrollment since the 2005-2006 school year. Across the state of Iowa, Black students under perform white students on academic assessments. In 2015, Black 4th grade students had an average reading score 32 points lower than that of white students. This performance gap was not significantly different from that in 1998 (31 points). This performance gap continues through 12th grade. Statewide, only 17 percent of Black students taking the ACT, a primary assessment of college readiness and one of two primary college entrance exams accepted by post-secondary institutions, met three or more benchmarks, or indicators of college readiness, compared to 52 percent of white students. In 2005, 12.9 percent of Black Polk County residents had less than a high school education. By 2014, this number had risen to 17.1 percent. Education is one of the most effective social justice strategies as evidenced by its strong correlation with
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