Racial Gap Widens In Lyons Township High Discipline: Report

LA GRANGE, IL – The racial disparity in disciplining students at Lyons Township High School widened last school year, the school reported Tuesday.

For seven of the last nine years, the school has been in the top 20 percent of districts with racially disproportionate numbers of suspensions.

Last school year, the school ranked 21st out of 442 school districts for its racial disparity. That put it in the top 5 percent.

A year earlier, it was 33rd, or in the top 8 percent.

"Our team would love to see the numbers looking a little different at this point, but we also feel really encouraged by the significant changes we've made this year," Leslie Owens, the student services director, told the school board.

At its meeting, the school board voted on the administration's recommended improvement plan. The state requires such a plan for schools in the top 20 percent.

Last school year, 21 white students at Lyons Township High School were suspended, while 58 students of color received the same punishment, according to the report.

Suspensions were down overall – a total of 79, compared with 90 a year earlier.

Students of color make up a third of enrollment, but nearly three-fourths of suspensions.

Last school year, Lyons Township High reported that 25 students were involved in incidents of violence without physical injury. They consisted of 16 Hispanics, five whites and three African Americans.

The school also reported 10 students were responsible for fights with injuries. Five Hispanics, three whites and two African Americans were involved, according to the report.

"With everything we've done, I have concerns that our racial disproportionality rate is going up," board member Jill Beda Daniels said. "What more can we do?"

Owens said administrators hoped that the introduction of "restorative intervention rooms" this school year may finally mean a reduced racial gap in discipline.

The intervention rooms are designed to give students opportunities to take responsibility for their actions and work to repair the harm that has occurred. Students can also receive academic help there, according to the school.

"We're seeing some encouraging data," Owens said.