U.S. Education Report Highlights Racial Inequities in Schools

In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) for the 2021-22 school year, revealing persistent racial disparities in educational resources and opportunities across the nation.

The CRDC, a biennial survey encompassing over 17,000 school districts and 98,000 schools, provides comprehensive data on student enrollment, access to courses, teacher qualifications, and school climate factors such as discipline and harassment. The latest findings highlight significant inequities affecting Black, Latino, and Native American students.

Key Findings:

• Course Offerings: High schools with predominantly Black and Latino student populations offered fewer mathematics, science, and computer science courses compared to schools with lower enrollments of these groups.

• Teacher Certification: Approximately 68% of students attending schools where fewer than half of the teachers met state certification requirements were Black and Latino.

• Access to Support Staff: Black and Native American or Alaska Native students were 1.3 times more likely than White students to attend schools with a law enforcement officer or security guard but no school counselor.

• Disciplinary Actions: Black students and students with disabilities were disproportionately subjected to suspensions, expulsions, and physical restraints.

These disparities underscore systemic challenges in achieving educational equity in the United States.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the urgency of addressing these inequities, stating, "The newly released data show that we cannot be complacent—that inequities in access to educational opportunities based on race, sex, and disability persist in school opportunities ranging from the number of STEM courses offered to our students to students’ experiences of suspensions in school."

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon added, "These new CRDC data reflect students’ experience of equality and inequality in the nation’s schools. These data call out for the full education community to recommit to ensuring fair and equal education opportunity for every student."

The 2021-22 CRDC data reveal persistent disparities similar to those identified in previous years. For instance, the 2017-18 CRDC highlighted that Black students were three times more likely to be suspended or expelled than their White peers. The consistency of these findings over time indicates systemic issues that have yet to be effectively addressed.

These disparities have significant implications for students' academic and future success. Limited access to advanced courses can restrict future academic and career opportunities, while inadequate teacher certification may affect the quality of education received. The presence of law enforcement without adequate counseling support can contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline, and disproportionate disciplinary actions can negatively impact students' academic trajectories and mental health.

Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort from policymakers, educators, and communities to ensure equitable access to quality education for all students.