Consent Decree McPherson v. Springfield School District 186 Summary Statement: District 186 Ethnic Analysis (2023–2024 vs. 2024–2025) In the context of the NAACP Consent Decree (McPherson v. Springfield School District 186), an analysis of District 186’s Ethnic Analysis Reports for the 2023–2024 and 2024– 2025 school years reflects modest enrollment changes but continued and significant disparities between the racial composition of the student population and that of the District’s full-time certified staff. Total student enrollment declined slightly from 12,861 in 2023–2024 to 12,665 in 2024– 2025. In 2023–2024, Black or African American students comprised 45.1% of the student population (5,792 students), followed by White students at 35.5% (4,564). Students identifying as Two or More Races represented 12.7% , Hispanic or Latino students 3.7% , and Asian students 3.0% . In 2024–2025, Black or African American students remained the largest group at 45.5% of enrollment (5,757 students), while White student enrollment declined to 34.0% (4,310). Students identifying as Two or More Races increased to 13.3% , Hispanic or Latino students rose slightly to 3.9% , and Asian students represented 2.8% . The District also reported Middle Eastern/North African students (0.3%) as a new category. Across both years, students of color collectively accounted for roughly 66% of total enrollment, underscoring the District’s diverse student population. By contrast, the 2024–2025 full-time certified staff demographics show a workforce that remains overwhelmingly White across all school types . At the high school level, White staff represent 90.7% of certified staff (223 of 246), compared to 6.5% Black, 1.6% Asian, 0.8% Hispanic, and 0.4% American Indian staff. Middle schools reflect a similar imbalance, with White staff comprising 92.3% of certified staff (215 of 233), while Black staff account for 5.6% , Hispanic 1.3%, and Asian 0.9%. Among the District’s 23 elementary schools, White staff make up 89.4% of certified staff (390 of 436), compared to 7.6% Black, 1.4% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, and 0.5% Two or More Races. At alternative schools, White staff represent 78.3% of certified personnel, while Black staff account for 21.7%. Viewed through the lens of the Consent Decree, this data highlights a persistent and pronounced gap between the racial and ethnic diversity of District 186’s student body, where students of color comprise nearly two-thirds of enrollment, and the certified instructional workforce, which remains between 78% and 92% White , depending on school type. These disparities underscore the continued relevance of the Consent Decree’s goals and the need for sustained, intentional efforts to improve equity in recruitment, hiring, and retention practices so that staff representation more closely reflects the students served by District 186.
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