Minority students continue Minneapolis schools exodus

Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | February 22, 2006 | Steve Brandt

[jdege]

Minority students continue Minneapolis schools exodus

The latest enrollment numbers show that Hispanic enrollment, the only recent growth area, has leveled off.

Steve Brandt, Star Tribune

Minority students continue to leave the Minneapolis School District faster than white students, pushing up the white share of the student body for the third straight year.

[...]

"I think folks are exercising options," said Carlos Mariani Rosa, executive director of the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership.

[...]

What's happening for Hispanic populations in Minneapolis may reflect the same changes that caused Asian enrollment to peak in 2000 and then plunge. That was a combination of Hmong families moving to the suburbs or enrolling in charter schools.

Asian enrollment has dropped the sharpest of any district minority group in recent years -- 43 percent over five years.

[...]

Minority groups have plenty of options. Low-income students can use a state-funded program to be bused to suburban schools, while 29 operating or approved charter schools in Minneapolis compete with the district for enrollment.

[...]

[mtbopfuyn]

The latest enrollment numbers show that Hispanic enrollment, the only recent growth area, has leveled off.

Make that illegal aliens.

[Mikey_1962]

Gee, Minorities with options in Education; Good!

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

They can only take so much of bitter cold winters and scorching hot summers.

There are a hundred better places to live!!

[sure_fine]

good news for kids of actual taxpayers

[lovecraft]

Me thinks it might get too cold in MN.

[CodeToad]

Men and white people hurt worst!
(Just had to!)

[miliantnutcase]

What?! It only got down to -20 last week? ;P

[El Conservador]

Thanks for chipping in and showing your sheer ignorance by invoking that time tested strawman, Hispanic=illegal alien.

[Clemenza]

There is a significant population of illegal aliens from Mexico in the twin cities area, mostly in St. Paul. However, you also have second and third generation Mexican Americans, as well as legal immigrants from other Latin American countries, so the picture is more mixed than one would think.

The key factor driving this change is the high cost of living in the city compared with suburbia. Rents for apartment in Minneapolis are more expensive than in the suburbs. This is the same reason why blacks are leaving Seattle proper, and poorer Latin immigrants (largely from Mexico) are settling in Renton, Bellevue, and Kent, rather than in central Seattle proper.