Race at the Top

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The suburbs are often celebrated for their manicured lawns, quiet streets, and high-quality schools, historically serving as enclaves for white Americans who use public education to secure college placements for their children. However, nonwhite parents are increasingly recognizing the benefits of these elite suburban schools and are moving in to enhance their children's educational opportunities. In this exploration, the author delves into an elite high school in the Northeast, where Asian American students, whose families have relocated to the area, begin to excel academically, often outperforming their white peers. This shift prompts a reaction from white parents, who express concerns about the heightened academic rigor, claiming it negatively impacts their children's mental health. They petition for reduced homework and seek to shift focus towards extracurricular activities, attempting to redefine success in ways that maintain their advantages. Even when faced with competition, these families work to alter the educational landscape to ensure their continued dominance in the meritocracy, illustrating the lengths to which they will go to preserve their status.