Archived: The Educational System in the United States: Case Study Findings

East City Area Schools
East Elementary School is an old two-story brick building, surrounded by large oak
trees, and nestled into a suburban community of East City. One of the magnet

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schools in the district, East Elementary School provided a full-day program that
included after-school care for students. According to the results of statewide tests,
students at East Elementary scored at about the state average in math and science.
The student population was ethnically mixed: 53 percent were white, and 42 per-
cent were African-American. The percentage of students eligible for a free lunch
was 25 percent.
East Middle School is an immense, modern school built within the last 5 years.
It is located amid rolling hills and horse farms that is rapidly being transformed
into a suburban community of new housing subdivisions. Because it is a year-
round school, students attend 45 days, then have 15 days off, so that at any one
time three-quarters of the students are in school and one-quarter are on break.
Student achievement in math and science was average for the state. Close to 90
percent of the students were white and less than 10 percent are African-American.
Seven percent of the students were eligible for free lunches.
East High School, built about 20 years ago, is a large split-level structure on the
east side of town, serving a district that was created to ensure racial and socio-
economic balance. The school is overcrowded and seven trailers served as supple-
mentary classrooms. The school includes a large gymnasium, multiple athletic
fields, a football stadium, and a child-care center. Computer access is provided in
all curriculum areas, and the school was one of two in the county to offer English
as a Second Language program.
Student scores on math and science tests were in the middle range for the state.
White students made up 62 percent of the student body, and 38 percent were
African-American. Fourteen percent of the students were eligible for free lunches.