NYC Gazette

When choosing schools for their children, Asian American parents often consider various factors such as reputation, safety, curriculum, and class size. However, a recent study highlights that demographics play a significant role in these decisions. Researchers found that many Asian American parents prefer schools with a larger population of Asian students due to beliefs associated with the model minority myth and concerns about discrimination.

"Research shows that school integration can decrease academic gaps between racial groups, reduce prejudice, and increase social cohesion," said Adriana Villavicencio, senior author and assistant professor at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. "However, these policies often fail when they don't account for parent buy-in."

The study involved interviews with 34 Asian American parents in a large urban school district. These participants were part of a broader group of 1,865 parents who applied for schools during the 2022-2023 academic year. The interviews focused on personal backgrounds, familiarity with enrollment policies, school selection criteria, and decision-making processes.

Findings published in the Harvard Educational Review indicated that around 80% of the interviewed parents prioritized demographics in their school choices. Of these parents, 29% preferred schools where half or more of the students were Asian. Additionally, 35% avoided schools with at least 25% Black or Latine students.

While over half of the respondents valued diversity in schools, their definitions varied based on income levels. High-income parents saw diversity as having students from different races and backgrounds. In contrast, low- and middle-income parents viewed it as environments reflecting their racial backgrounds.

"In light of the complex histories and dynamics between different racial groups... we argue that school districts should create opportunities for cross-racial dialogues," Villavicencio stated.

The research was coauthored by Tiffany Wu and Verenisse Ponce-Soria from the University of California, Irvine. It received funding from the William T. Grant Foundation.