New Report Analyzes 20-Year Trends in New York’s K-12 Educational Landscape

Original analysis highlights the importance of religious and independent private schools in the city and state

NEW YORK, NY — As recent battles over school integration highlight the question of New York’s school demographics, a new report by Manhattan Institute senior fellow and director of education policy Ray Domanico offers an illuminating analysis of the racial, religious, and socioeconomic makeup of schools across the city and state. His original analysis spans 20 years, revealing demographic trends and focusing closely on the types of non-district schools that some parents choose for their children.

Domanico identifies four themes that emerge from his analysis. First, New York has seen a substantial demographic shift over the past two decades, with 300,000 fewer students across the state today than in 2000-01, with the sharpest decline outside New York City. Second, New York City is more diverse than its public schools, with 52% of all white students in the city attending private schools. Third, private schools defy generalization: In New York City, they serve both wealthy and lower-income communities, with most students residing in areas with a median family income below $100,000. Finally, not all public schools serve heterogenous populations, with wealthy suburban districts especially homogenous with respect to family income, adult education level, and race.

Other key findings include:

• In areas with average family incomes of $150,000 and above, under half of students in New York City attend public schools, in comparison with 85% of students in districts outside the city.
• Statewide, enrollment at private and religious schools is down 16%.
• Enrollment in Catholic schools has declined by 49% while enrollment in Jewish schools is up by 62.6%.
• White and black families are the most likely groups to avail themselves of schools outside of their district option.
• In the city, one-third of all private and religious school students are non-white.
• Nearly 70% of NYC students in private schools come from families with household incomes below $100,000.

Click here to read the full report.