Theme II: Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Education

Section 2.3: Community Demographics

2.3.13- Analyze the community's shifting demographics, and recommend ways that the
education system can respond.

For district leaders and teachers to create a culturally responsive classroom, it's important

to have a good understanding of community demographics. Demographics analysis is the study

of population based on how factors such as age, race, and sex. Demographic data refers to

socioeconomic information expressed statistically including employment, education, income,

marriage rates, birth and death rates. The demographics between Olentangy Local Schools,

Dublin City Schools, and Westerville City Schools are all assessed in a variety of different

categories. When looking at each school it is very important to look at the populations for

different perspectives, such as growth, ethnicity and learning disabilities. The population of each

of these in the districts affects what decisions are made throughout the district. When there is an

increase in population in a district they need to hire more staff and build more buildings so they

can keep growing the diversity in the school district.

The Olentangy Local School District operates with fifteen elementary schools, five

middle schools and four high schools. There is also an online school called OASIS for selected

students at the headquarters, plus there is a school for STEM students. There are almost 21,000

kids enrolled (Evidence; 2.3.1). Of the student population 81.9% are white, 2.6% are hispanic,

3.7% are African American, 9.3% are asian, 2.2% are mixed, and 0.2% are other (Evidence;

2.3.2). The Olentangy School District has created a diversity committee to manage a more

diverse community (Evidence; 2.3.3). The Olentangy Local School District is one of the fastest

growing school districts. We gain over a 1,000 students each year (Evidence; 2.3.4).
 In the Dublin City School District there are 23 schools all together. They have fourteen

elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, one preschool, and Emerald campus

which houses special programs such as STEM. There are almost 17,000 students enrolled

(Evidence; 2.3.5). Of the student population 72.2% are white, 5.9% are hispanic, 4.2% are

African American, 14.4% are asian, 2.6% are mixed, and 0.6% are other (Evidence; 2.3.6).

In the Westerville City Schools there are fifteen elementary schools, four middle schools,

three high schools, an early learning center, and an academic enrichment center. There are 15,500

students enrolled (Evidence; 2.3.7). Of the student population 75.3% are white, 3.7% are

hispanic, 14.9% are african american, 2.6% are asian, 3.2% are mixed, and 0.3% are other

(Evidence; 2.3.8).

Overall evaluating student population growth each year is very important. Each district

needs to know how much they are increasing or decreasing in the student population. School

districts like Olentangy, Dublin, and Westerville are all increasing by over a thousand in student

population each year. Where Columbus City Schools often see a decrease in student population

as seen on the graph below (Evidence; 3.8.9). What each district did to address the growth of the

student population was build more school buildings and hired more teachers and staff. When

school districts see a decrease in student population usually the board has to make some changes

like letting teachers go and combine all the students into fewer buildings.

The demographic of your student population can not only affect the students but it can

also affect the teachers in a variety of ways (Evidence; 2.3.10). Each year the diversity in each

school district is changing, therefore schools should look more into hiring more diverse teachers.

Olentangy provides professional development on how to create culturally responsive classrooms.

If the demographic of your student population is kids with learning disabilities then you would
need to hire more intervention teachers. The number of intervention specialists hired depends on

the number of students with disabilities that are coming into the school district that year. This is

also the same for the students that are considered gifted. If the special needs population was

higher , then the school district would need to hire more teachers that are fit to work with more

honor, gifted, and AP students.

The demographics of Olentangy Local Schools, Dublin City Schools, and Westerville

City School District are all different in a variety of ways. The population growth, diversity,

graduation rates, and student exceptionalities are all different throughout each of the three

districts. It is important that each district evaluates their own demographics and takes the path

they need to use to help each student learn to their full potential.