Local schools see big racial shift

Tue, 02/14/2006 - 4:38pm
By: John Thompson

With no fanfare and almost no public notice, the Fayette County School System is undergoing a demographic sea change.

Minority populations table
Click here to download a full sized pdf of this table.

The Fayette County School System’s minority population now stands at 32 percent, according to Superintendent of Education John DeCotis, while five years ago it was 20 percent.

There were fewer white students in local schools in 2005 than there were five years ago, a check of the raw numbers reveals.

Fayette’s minority student number now exceeds neighboring Coweta County, where the minority school population is 31 percent.

According to figures provided by the school system, the number of minorities now calling the Fayette County School System home has dramatically increased in five years. The minority school population expanded at a rate of 2 percent each year for the past five years.

Compare today’s numbers with 2000, when the system’s student population was 19,207. Of that number, 15,417 were white students, while 3,790 were minority students, which includes African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native-Americans and multi-racial.

But in just five years, minority growth in the system is the biggest factor in the system’s increase in students.

In 2005, 21,635 students attended Fayette County schools and 15,263 were white students, for a net loss of just under 200 white students in five years.

The fastest growing minority group are Hispanics, which saw their school population more than double from 408 students in 2000 to 860 students today.

African-American students are the second-fastest growing group in Fayette schools with a nearly 60 percent increase in students in five years. Five years ago, their population stood at 2,561, but today the number has jumped to 4,116 students. Asians in the school system saw their numbers increase from 531 students to 745 students.

According to the Georgia Statistics System, which is administered by the University of Georgia, both the Hispanic and African-American population have increased 10 fold within Fayette County in just over 20 years.

In 1980, there were 224 Hispanics, but in 2003, the number had jumped to 2,599. The African-American numbers increased from 1,276 in 1980 to 13,410 in 2003.

Hispanics are now 3.3 percent of the county’s total population, while African-Americans are 15.5 percent. In the school’s population, Hispanics account for 3.9 percent of the students, while African-Americans account for 19 percent of the student population.

Compare the numbers in Coweta County, where African-Americans are 17.3 percent of the overall population and 21.7 percent of the school population, while Hispanics are 4.8 percent of the total and 4.6 percent of the school population.

DeCotis said Fayette’s minority growth is mirroring the rest of the Atlanta metro area.

“Our diversity has been increasing, just like the rest of the area. Gwinnett County is now a majority-minority district,” DeCotis said.

Fayette County now has four schools that are majority-minority students schools (see table), while Coweta County has just one, Ruth Hill Elementary.

Fayette’s majority-minority schools are all centered in the Fayetteville area: North Fayette Elementary, Hood Avenue Elementary, Fayetteville Intermediate Elementary School and Fayette Middle School.

This year, Coweta County had to do a massive rezoning to get Ruth Hill’s minority population down from 70 percent to just under 40 percent, because the county was still under a 1973 federal court order requiring the school system to make sure racial balance was achieved at the schools.

Fayette, on the other hand, is under no such court order, since the minority population in the 1960s through the 1980s was so small.

In order to deal with the increased diversity, DeCotis said the school system has implemented a number of different programs to help the students assimilate into the school system. One of the programs at Cleveland Elementary is called Amigos and focuses on helping students who don’t speak English improve their language skills with student tutors from Fayette County High School.

“We also have reassigned a teacher this year who works with all the schools and helps students and parents who don’t speak English help fill out forms and get adjusted to the school system,” DeCotis added.

School spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach also said step-dancing programs are also in high gear at Fayette County High School and Sandy Creek. Step-dancing has been highly popular with African-American sororities and fraternities at the collegiate level and is now offered at the high schools.

For the last two years, the school system has had cultural awareness training for the staff and is now examining gender differences in teaching approaches. The new students bring a challenge to the school system, but DeCotis said Fayette’s stellar reputation is a selling point.

“We’ve always been a dynamic system and people move here from out of state for a good education experience,” DeCotis said.

Georgia population stats

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Submitted by miquelstephens on Sun, 06/29/2008 - 2:01am.

You are absolutely right !!!

Submitted by amomof3 on Sat, 02/18/2006 - 11:41pm.

I feel like the reason for this posting in the paper was so that the school board can divert your attention from last weeks battle of "get the out of county kids out of our fayette schools" to exactly what is going on this week......"white vs. black"

And as a Fayette resident for over 20 years, going to high school at FCSH and now raising my own children in the county...sorry, but I have seen the change in north fayette......so sad....
yeah, i had to put my two cents in on the w vs. b too.

Submitted by Tlady on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 6:40pm.

Race is not the issue here. The issue is quality of life and quality of education. I am often in our schools. It is not right that teachers and administrators do not discipline some students for fear of being accused of being racists. There are students who are allowed to speak disrespectfully to adults and other students and constantly interrupt instruction with no consequences because it is considered their "culture". This did not happen in our schools 5-10 years ago.
Students are passed on and on and given all kinds of preferential treatment whether they know material or not. Ask any parent who has tried to have their child retained in a grade in Fayette County - it is like fighting Goliath. Although not always minority students, those students who are not performing academically up to par, who are disruptive, belligerant, and discipline problems, are usually, to use an oxymoron, majority minority!

Submitted by lj57 on Sun, 02/19/2006 - 12:00am.

Look at what goes on in other county school system's. (Clayton)
Do we want that? Disruptive students no matter what color should
be punished. If parent's don't like it, home school. Keep the trouble
makers out of the public schools.

Submitted by kenyansmom on Wed, 02/22/2006 - 7:48pm.

I hope the shift is for the better as diversification can add enlightenment. As an African-American living in this county for over 10 years I've seen some changes and have concerns as well. I agree if students are severely disruptive and there is no parental involvement, there should be alternative educational programming or home schooling. Unfortunately there is no remedy for bullies and truants in the mainstream environment. Teachers/administrators should have the recourse to deal with these problems without giving preferential treatment. I've not seen more kids in my life suffering from privilege and entitlement complexes! Kids display in class what's modeled at home, as many are disrespectful to parents, are rewarded with many material things yet are generally bored and ungrateful.
I pray my 17 year old has the conviction to resist the temptations of promiscuity that are rampant, and that parents find a way to monitor the activities of their kids in those hours between 3:30pm - 5:30pm Mon-Fri. The number of registered pedophiles is so high in this county it's frightening! And with the influx of people whether by displacement or relocation seeking a better way of life, things have changed. But no, it wasn't a paradise before we got here, but with work and tolerance it can be a good community where people can co-exist.

Submitted by whatever7 on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 11:33am.

If race wasn't an issue than why do you keep bringing up minorities? Are you saying the minorities aren't entitled to have a good life and a good education? WHATEVER! And the other comment about PTC being "too white" You hit the nail on the head! Most of the rude and disrespectful children are the upper and middle class children, guess they get that from their parents because the parents are the ones letting them act like that at home! Where is the discipline at? Heck the ones that have been written about in the newspaper were supposedly "outstanding" students, bringing knives to school and whatever else. What about the two students that committed suicide? Weren't they from upper/middle class families? And you moved to Fayette County to bring your children up in a better environment?! Fayette County is the same as any other county in the United States, you are going to have it wherever you go! So stop being a close minded racist!

Submitted by Scouter on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 11:31am.

The issue here is not race it's parents involved in their child's education. There is a specific reason why kids do good in Fayette Schools, parental involvement. There are some parents who feel that if they just put their kids in the school system, they will do well. In most cases this does not happen. Look at the high achievers and you will see parents that are active in the eductaion of their child. Our county is changing as the numbers show. What I want to see are the average test scores per school and how active are parents in each school. I could care less what the color of my neighboor's skin is. I care about how they are raising their children because that will affect the school system.

Submitted by PTCMomma on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 9:24pm.

I retained one of mine in the Fayette system. Granted, that was before NCLB. I didn't have to fight or argue my point. It was all about social maturity though, not academics.
Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Submitted by whatever7 on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 11:33am.

What a color-conscious world we live in. Why does it matter what color your skin is? Does that make you a better person than someone else? I believe when God created us he created us equal. Am I not right? And as far as the comment goes about becoming Riverdale, I am assuming you are talking about "black" people moving here, well there are "WHITE" people out there that fit into the same category! WOW I can't believe there are so many close minded racist people still out there! For those of you that are out there, You will meet your Maker one day!

Buckwheat Rules's picture
Submitted by Buckwheat Rules on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 12:48pm.

Why does it matter what color your skin is? It doesn’t, but it does mean that those who've lived in Fayette County or made the decision to move their family here knowing it had good schools, clean communities, friendly people, less traffic, decent shops, and an all around southern charm about it shouldn't have to bear the burden of accommodating the social and civil standards of new folk moving into their town either!

Did you ever stop to think that the minorities moving in could be coming in from certain less than desirable socio-economic and geographic backgrounds to take advantage of what is currently being offered here? Let’s all be honest and call it out for what it really is, it all about maintaining and elevating a social and civil standard of living. Nobody wants to digress for the sake of being diverse.


Submitted by MROSS on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 4:05pm.

Did YOU ever stop to think that the minorities moving in are highly educated, affluent, hard-working, business owners, and dedicated parents who can afford to live here? We are people who care about the education of our children,our property values, and standards of living. Having me as a neighbor and my children as your children's classmates is definitely NOT a burden! We can only enhance and enrich yours and your families lives. You will soon be faced with the choice of stop being so closed minded and respect the diversity among you or move. And most likely, at your next residence, your next door neighbor will be ANOTHER highly educated, affluent, hard-working, dedicated minority that can more than afford to live there as well.

Submitted by asiseeit on Mon, 02/20/2006 - 9:12am.

My neighbors who moved in from Clayton County were quite the contrary. They were not highly educated, well spoken, affluent or hard working.They caused more unrest in my neighborhood than I've ever seen. Their house was in forclosure at least 3 times before they were finally forced to move much to the relief of the entire neighborhood.
We would have loved to have had "highly educated, affluent, hard-working" & "dedicated minority" neighbors. It just did not happen.

G35 Dude's picture
Submitted by G35 Dude on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 4:16pm.

If you are law abiding, decent, and can pull your weight then welcome to Fayette County. But I am not in favor of bringing in people that will be a problem or burden to the rest of us just to achieve some quota. If that makes me racist then so be it !


Submitted by PTCMomma on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 4:12pm.

I get the point. What I don't get is why in 2005 that the point still needs to be made.

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Submitted by whatever7 on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 11:40am.

So are you basically saying the "minorities" which we know you are talking about "black" people aren't entitled to good schools, clean communities, friendly people, less traffic, decent shops, and as you say all around southern charm? You need to wake up out of your little "sheltered" world you live in! Stop living with stereo types and think outside the box! I can't tell you the last time that some one has accidently bumped into me at the store and actually said excuse me or went into a restuarant where the waiter/waitress was actually polite and didn't act like I was interrupting her. Grow up people!

Submitted by PTCMomma on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 3:18pm.

The racist attitudes I'm seeing here really scare me. One of my major issues for many years was that PTC was too white. I, for one, am glad to see it become more diversified. And most of the people I know that don't have good manners or social graces aka "class" are white and upper middle-class or wealthy.

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Submitted by asiseeit on Sat, 02/18/2006 - 4:39pm.

If you do not like "white and upper middle-class or wealthy" people you should not have moved to Peachtree City. Your lack of logic really scares me. As for your "too white" reference; Let someone say something is too black & see what kind of reactions happen. Saying "PTC was too white" illudes that white people are something negative. Such nastiness.

Submitted by PTCMomma on Sat, 02/18/2006 - 6:53pm.

You really should have read all that I wrote within the thread. I have no problem with "white" people. I am white. I have no problem with the upper-middle class or wealthy. I fall in those ranks somewhere. I do however want my children to be exposed to people of many ethnicities/races who are trying to live the good life like we are. When I first moved to PTC, I did not realize how much it lacked in diversification but am glad to see that changing.

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Submitted by asiseeit on Sun, 02/19/2006 - 9:46am.

Nope. I read every word you submitted & meant what I wrote. I call them as I see them & your words speak for themselves.

Submitted by PTCMomma on Sun, 02/19/2006 - 10:06am.

See it how you like. Being able to say what we think is part of what makes this country great, and me proud to be a soldier's wife. Personally though, your responses to my post seem to lack more logic than what you accuse me of.

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Submitted by asiseeit on Sun, 02/19/2006 - 2:13pm.

I'm sure someone of your stellar calibur can point some high powered perception @ yourself & admit that you not only made a perversely poor choice of words but also did Peachtree City & the entire white population a gross injustice by referring to Peachtree City as "too white".

Submitted by PTC32YEARS on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 12:56pm.

What exactly do you mean "too white"? I feel this is a racist attitude.

What are we going to gain by becoming more diversified. Union City became more diversified and look at it now. I do not think the majority wants this city to take a nose dive.

Submitted by PTCMomma on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 3:54pm.

First, I am white, so my saying PTC was "too white" for too long is hardly racist. Secondly, having a VARIETY of ethnicities, races, religions, etc will not cause PTC to take a "nose dive". Community involvement from the residents is what keeps a town a good place to live, not what color their skin is, not their religion, not their ethnicity, not how much money they make. We have been fortunate to have a good number of Japanese families living in our town, and are seeing more and more people from other backgrounds move here. This is a good thing. If we want people to be involved though, those who are already here need to make them feel welcome (even if they don't have $, and live in our fixed-rent apartments (like Harmony Village). If people aren't made to feel welcome, they won't become involved. For example, a friend of mine lives in Harmony. We've talked about this race thing. She told me that when she first moved here, her child's teacher assumed she was single (she's married), and then at the end of the school year, was surprised the family hadn't moved because so many move in to Harmony, and move again quickly. Perhaps they don't stay because they aren't made to feel welcome??? PTC is a good place to live, I have considered leaving but really, the more I think about it, no place is perfect. The important thing to do is work towards improving it. This ramble is over...

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

All Smiles's picture
Submitted by All Smiles on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 6:18am.

Fayetteville will be just like Riverdale in just a few years!! We, the citizens, the councilmen and law makers need to keep the property values up so the "ash and trash" will not be able to afford to live here, whoever they are. No more affordable housing or appartments! And for illegal students, Fayette County Board of Education needs to adopt a policy simular to the one in place for the Henry County Board of Education. If your child is caught as an illegal student, you are PROOCUTED AND CHARGED TUITION!!! I know this will not stop all of the illegal students, but it sure will cut down on them and we, the taxpayers, will not have to pick up as much of the bill.


Submitted by ptcadair on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 8:31am.

While it is apparent that we are seeing more minorities in Peachtree City, and Fayette County there are guidelines that we are held to legally. Every city has to have a certain number of homes that are affordable for the poor and minority. There is also the government programs such as Section 8 housing that allow more poor, and minority people to afford to live in these areas. The ceiling on the rent on the homes that allow Section 8 is over $1000.00 per month. That is very inviting to people that wouldn't normally be able to afford that luxury. What the city, and people need to do within the legal boundaries would be to enforce City Codes and ordinances pertaining to quality of life issues. Homeowners associations and landlords need to take action instead of making idol threats. There are quite a few landlords in Peachtree City that allow their rental properties in Wynnemeade to look atrocious and would rather banter with the HOA than promote quality of life. The Fayette County School Board needs to take action as well. They hold themselves higher on the pedestal than other counties and therefore should react to illegal students with the same passion. To summarize, we all need to quit being lazy and become more involved in these issues instead of allowing ourselves to become complacent leaving all to the city officials to handle.

Submitted by Lawdawga on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 3:25pm.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg when the hand of the Federal Government gets involved in our lives....meeting quotas. I moved to Georgia about 36 years ago. I started out living in East Point and then had to move to College Park; then on to Old National Highway area; then to Riverdale; then to Forest Park; then to Jonesboro; then to Fayetteville. This is called "white flight"...and while I do not judge a person by the color of their skin, I do see what is so plain before my eyes. When we are forced to lower our standards of living, including the standards of our schools, to meet a federal quota, the quality of life goes down. To maintain a high quality of life is one reason everyone of all colors and races strive to improve their lot in life. Take a look at the mess Clayton County is in. I lived there for years and saw the racial change coming for years before finally quitting my job there and moving here...and now I'm seeing the same thing happen to Fayette County. A little research will show how many businesses and people have left Clayton County and moved to Henry or Fayette County. I don't care what color my neigbor is as long as they worked and made their way there the same as I did. I do not want a neighbor who the federal and state government has handed to them what I have worked and sacrificed for so many years. I appreciate my house that I have work for and pinched pennies and bought on my own. But what about the guy next door that doesn't work most of the time, and his house payments are about a third of what I pay because he has Section 8? What gives him the right to have that?!! And, yes, sadly, the school system is on a dive. I agree that some children need more help than others in learning --- and that should be provided. However, if a child is not capable of performing on his or her grade level, that child should have to repeat. But nooooo....we have No Child Left Behind....Just another hand-out. The children that put forth the effort to learn get the same as those that don't. What's the reward for a job well done? Fayette County is going to become another Clayton County in the near future and all we seem to be able to do is sit back and watch. I'm tired of moving. Lawdawga

Buckwheat Rules's picture
Submitted by Buckwheat Rules on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 4:00pm.

Quoting Lawdawga: "When we are forced to lower our standards of living, including the standards of our schools, to meet a federal quota, the quality of life goes down."

Amen Lawdawga! Your post is right on the money. I think the majority of Fayette Countians feel the exact same way.


Submitted by Mr WorldTradeCenter on Fri, 02/17/2006 - 11:16pm.

Yeah,I grew up in New York, Yeah, I'm black and "YEAH" I live in Fayette County. First, white people never really get to know blacks, so before you make comments about us, take a walk or talk.
Most blacks in Fayette make more money and have brought there bags of cash with them from the Northeast. So, trashed counties like Clayton "ain't going happen". Most of the blacks in Fayette live in the richer more pleasing subdivisions. The range is 300,000 to over 1 million. So excuuuuse me!!! if my bringing my bag of money gets you pissed enough to be called racist. We Northerners who have come and intergrated your schools not only have the money to live here but even exceed your incomes. The last time I looked north I saw two sky scrapers fall and blacks and whites ran for there lives together. NOW! you racist who forgot this didn't take into account that most of the blacks here left that.

But as we know you fayette's who don't want us hard working blacks from the north who take up most of the expensive subdivision should take a ride over the Verazano Bridge to see two empty spaces that were knocked down by an enemy WHO DIDNOT CARE ABOUT RACE!!!!!!! So I push my kids till they get honors and shop in PTC, drink the designer coffee and drive my HOTROD down your streets. And if you think you recognize me, remember I am one of hundreds of newcomers that are black and rich enough to buy in your wealthiest subdivisions. Maybe if listen to the new blacks here and talked you would have known who we are and that our presents only makes Fayette Schools Better. Unless your just jealous !!!

Submitted by GAfan on Sun, 02/19/2006 - 11:21pm.

Wow!!!! I love the gross over-generalization this article begins with!!! Yes, all caucasians interact with all blacks in the exact same manner!!! If MrWorldTradeCenter thinks this article is persuasive in any manner, or that this article is in some way enlightening, maybe he should re-evaluate his logic. Racism unfortunately permeates southern culture, surely you were aware MrWorldTradeCenter? KKK, plantations, the Civil War...sound familiar???? I must tell you, bragging (quite uncouthly to be honest) about your "bags of money" is not the most appropriate way to go about trying to validate either your character or the character of blacks moving to Fayette. Having money and overpaying for coffee and cars (which, correct me if I'm wrong, you brag about?) does very little to prove your quality. If this idiotic mentality is what we can expect from you, then color of your skin is of little consequence! If you were to write this article yet be whiter than Strom Thurmond, I would still think you less than desirable for my community!

Submitted by rmo on Sun, 02/19/2006 - 7:36pm.

You and your family may be fine and "honor students" but the majority of folks moving in are not buying 300,000 homes. I am concerned about the trashy folks that are moving in and ran many of my African American friends out of Clayton.

Submitted by twilson on Tue, 02/14/2006 - 10:42pm.

John, are we talking racial shift here or are we seeing a genuine case of illegal students in Fayette County schools.

A few months ago I had occasion to review some data extracted from the voter registration records of the November 2004 voters. That data classified registered voters by sex and ethnic origin. It revealed approximately 14.0% registered black voters, similar to the per cent you cited.

Let's overlay that knowledge to the school population. We learn in statistics 101 that if the sample is random and the size is large enough we can make the following generalization. The per cent of the overall black population indicated by the voter registration data should approximate the percentage of blacks in the public school.

Doesn't seem to be the case here. 14.0% versus 19.0%!! A discrepancy of 5%.

What could account for this discrepancy? First thing to come to mind is that the black population in Fayette County seems to be heavily weighted in favor of children and young adults, not yet registered to vote, or that a large % of adults are not registered to vote. Neither explanation sufficiently explains the large discrepancy.

There is good evidence here that we in fact do have a high number of illegal students in Fayette County schools.

Leoah Whineknott's picture
Submitted by Leoah Whineknott on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 3:00am.

A 5% discrepancy seems logical if you consider the fact that the registered voter may have more than one child or that there may be several children living in a single-parent home. In my home we have two registered voters and 5 children. But, I work in an office with 4 other people. Between us, (counting step-children and spouses), we have 14 children in Fayette County schools but only 6 registered voters.

Don't assume illegal students are black. It is obvious to me that the demographics in Fayette County is changing. I am more concerned about illegal aliens sending their kids to school. I'm sure if you check you will see that the increase of Hispanic registered voters is much, much lower when compared to the increase in school population. (If they aren't citizens, they can't register to vote.) But, even if the school knows a child or family is here illegally they cannot, according to the law, stop providing the child with an education. So the question is, if they happen to be illegally living in Clayton County but sending their kids to school here, can it be stopped? And, is the school system even allowed to tell us how many illegal aliens are attending school here?

Leoah Whineknott


Submitted by danae on Thu, 02/16/2006 - 12:59pm.

In regards to the article about the minority group in schools and illegal "aliens", I would like to say that I am from Mexico City and cannot believe how close-minded people are. I was always treated like an illegal alien even though I was not. My parents always had my siblings and I attend the best schools and they paid tuition. We also have NEVER been in any type of government assistance. We were in after school activities and my parents ALWAYS PAID FROM THEIR OWN POCKETS. I graduated high school and received several scholarships to continue my education. I came from a low economic household and was never trouble. I have graduated college and I am obtaining two more degrees. It is not the color of your skin or whether you are illegal or not. An education is an education. EVERYONE IS AN IMMIGRANT TO THIS COUNTRY, EVEN THE WHITES. I am happy to say that my husband is Caucasian and my son is American. I cannot believe that now in 2006 we see so much racism despite the war, poverty, and deaths that we are seeing. We should enjoy the time we are here on earth and not hate each other. Why do you go to church and repent if in your heart you are hating people of color?

Submitted by 2Xpoz1 on Wed, 02/15/2006 - 11:03pm.

Ive never heard anyone refer to immigrants as aliens before!

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