Union Public Schools has seen an increase in its Latino student population over the last 10 years, resulting in adjustments to the district’s teaching methods.
More English language learners have also enrolled in the district over the past decade.
Notably, fewer white-identifying students are enrolling. The numbers of students identifying as African American and Asian American has remained flat in the last 10 years.
“I think the increase in the population growth is beautiful and is part of what’s happening in our city, the growth in our city and the diversity in our city,” said Amy Smith, director of Union’s English Learners Program.
Here’s how the district has shifted its methods to keep up with the changing student population, according to data from Union Public Schools analyzed by La Semana.
Latino student population, English language learners increase
Union’s Latino student population has grown nearly 30% since 2015.
Alongside that growth, the district has seen a roughly 35% increase in English language learners.
Smith said she appreciates the district’s immersion model for its English language learners, which immerses students into classes with the general student population. The students also still take one English learning development class with other English learners.
“A lot of times you wouldn’t even know that they’re an English language learner because they are proficient in conversational English and a lot of the initial vocabulary, while we are working to develop the academic vocabulary,” Smith said.
Students who moved to the country in the last year experience a more isolated and structured language instruction, she said.
The English Learners Program also has English language instructional coaches that focus on helping teachers improve instruction for all of their students. These coaches are embedded within certain schools and help with ongoing staff training.
Fewer white students enrolling, African American student population remains flat
Notably, fewer students identifying as white are enrolling in the district. The white student population has dropped by 42%.
The African American student population on the other hand has remained flat, with about a 4% drop since 2015.
The Asian American student population saw a nearly 4% decrease since 2015.
Additionally, the district has seen a roughly 33% decrease in Native American students enrolling.
Lea este artículo en español aquí.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
