Economic Inequality In Union County Cranford Vs Elizabeth McKayla Muller

New Jersey

Union County

Cranford Cranford is one of few towns in Union County that is far from minority-filled. It has a total population of 22,625 people (city-data). 20,781of those people, or 90.6%, are white, while 2.1% are Asian, and 2.6% are black. About four percent of the population is Hispanic. The majority of the town is white, and very little minority groups are represented. The town has large Italian, Irish, and German populations, among other European descendent groups. Only 8.7% of the population is foreign born (city-data).

Elizabeth Elizabeth is a much larger town compromised of 113,507 people. Sixty-seven percent of the entire population is Hispanic. Starkly different from Cranford, 12.3% of the population of Elizabeth is white, 17% is black, and 2.3% is Asian. A whopping 43.9% of the total population is foreign-born. The town is more ethnically diverse than Cranford, with a large representation of minority groups and a much smaller number of white people.

History of NJ and Union County Elizabethtown- first permanent English settlement in NJ (1664)  split into towns as it grew Thriving and prosperous economic center – lured immigrants looking for work First Wave: Irish and German Second Wave (1880-1925): Italians (Eastern Europeans) Third Wave (1960s)- Latin America and Asia Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Dominican Republic India, China, Japan NJ has an oddly large amount of immigrants- 6% of total immigrants into the US settle in NJ Northeastern urban areas . It was located on the Elizabeth River, and became a thriving and prosperous economic center. As the population grew, boundaries expanded and divisions were created, leading to the formation of Union County in 1857. Cranford was incorporated as a township in 1871. The entire state of New Jersey was economically successful throughout the 1800s, leading to an influx of Europeans eager to find work in factories.

Housing- household incomes In Cranford, the estimated median household income in 2015 was $98,167. Because salaries are high among residents, people are able to afford nice homes- the estimated median house or condo value is $426,279. Compared to the estimated median household income in Elizabeth of $44,016 and the estimated median house or condo value of $252,900, Cranford’s residents are making a lot more money and living in more valuable homes than Elizabeth residents.

Housing- house values Properties are much large in Cranford being that there are only 1,776 houses per square mile, compared to 3,505 houses per square mile in Elizabeth. As much as 80% of Elizabeth residents are renters, while only 20% of Cranford residents rent. Also, in Elizabeth, 24.5% of households are run by single-parents, while only 5% of households in Cranford are single-parent. Most households in Cranford are run two home-owning parents, which is not the case in Elizabeth.

Education- Cranford High School 1,163 students 84% white, 3.8% black, 3.4% Asian, and 8.3% Hispanic 4.2% of their students are economically disadvantaged 41 reduced lunches 67% take at least one AP 73% score a 3 or higher Composite SAT score- 1605 66% of students participate in visual and performing arts Graduation rate- 96% 88% of graduates are enrolled in college sixteen months after graduation It’s student body is made up of 1,163 kids, 84% of which are white, 3.8% black, 3.4% Asian, and 8.3% Hispanic (US news). Reflecting back on the household incomes, it is not surprising that only 4.2% of their students are economically disadvantaged. There are only 41 reduced/free lunches necessary for the student body. Academically the school has a very good reputation. 95% of the students participate in the SAT or ACT and 50% of those students score above a 1550 on the SAT. At 67%, more than half the school takes at least one AP course, and 73% of the AP test scores are a three or higher. The school’s composite SAT score is 1605, higher than the state average by 100 points. Visual and performing arts courses are taken by 66% of students, balancing out the load of academically rigorous courses. The overall graduation rate is 96% and 88% of graduates are enrolled in college sixteen months after graduation.

Education- John E. Dwyer Technology Academy 1070 students 69.4% Hispanic, 24.3% black, 4.7% white, and 1.5% Asian 83.1% of students are economically disadvantaged 89% of the students are on reduced/free lunch 24% of students take at least one AP 12% score a 3 or higher Composite SAT score: 1044 45.6% enrolled in visual and performing arts 68% graduation rate 53% of graduates are enrolled in college 16 months after graduation A rather similarly sized high school in Elizabeth is John E. Dwyer Technology Academy, founded in 2009. Of its 1070 students, 69.4% are Hispanic, 24.3% are black, 4.7% are white, and 1.5% are Asian. A daunting 83.1% of its students in attendance are economically disadvantaged and 89% of the students are on reduced/free lunch. While every single student is required to participate in the SAT or ACT, only 4% score above 1550. Unlike Cranford, only 24% of the student body takes at least one AP class, and 12% of those students score a three or above on the AP tests. The school’s composite SAT score sits 500 points below the state average at 1044. Less than half the school participates in visual and performing arts courses. Only 68% of students graduate, which is below the target of both the school and district. Fifty-three percent of those who graduated were enrolled in a college sixteen months after their high school graduation.

Education- Elizabeth High School 840 students 71.1% Hispanic, 14.3% white, 10.4% black, and 4.3% Asian 78% of students are economically disadvantaged 75.7% qualify for reduced/free lunch All students take the SAT or ACT and at least one AP class SAT composite score: 1535 74.9% enrolled in visual and performing arts 98% graduation rate 88% of graduates enrolled in college within 16 months of graduating At Elizabeth High, everyone takes at least one AP class and every student participates in the SAT or ACT. Of these students, 45% scored above 1550 on the SAT and the school’s composite score was 1535, a similar percentage and composite score to Cranford High. An extraordinary 74.9% of students are enrolled in visual and performing arts. The overall graduation rate is 98% and 88% of graduates are enrolled in college within sixteen months of graduating. Of these academically successful students, 71.1% are Hispanic, 14.3% are white, 10.4% are black, and 4.3% are Asian. Seventy-eight percent of the student population is economically disadvantaged students. Five-hundred and forty-four out of the 719 students at the school qualify for reduced/free lunches (75.7%). The kids at this school do not have the financial means of those students in economically prosperous towns, but are scoring just as well, and often times better than those students.

HOW? All district high schools are application based Elizabeth High is a magnet school with specific academic requirements; John Dwyer Tech Academy does not Set high expectations for students  160 credit high school graduation requirement, the highest in the state Credit their success to managed instruction - went from decentralized to centralized model district reconfiguration- 2-tiered model; high school split into 6 thematic schools universal preschool school uniforms and expanded learning time (ELT) for all schools in district- one hour longer school days Credit their success to managed instruction – got rid of decentralized whole school reform model and implemented a centralized reform model components managed by central office- curriculum, human resources, professional development, student information systems, support structures, accountability, and assessment Each school is given the choice of 3 models and they have the authority to make decisions about curriculum, staffing, and assessments Decentralizing some management decision making to local schools district reconfiguration went from 3 tiers to 2 tiers  Pre-K/K-8 and high schools  greater sense of school community by reducing size of schools and teachers/staff following students from K – 8 Elizabeth High School was divided in 2009 into six smaller thematic high schools (divided 5,000 students up) universal preschool for all 3 and 4 years olds living in the district; starting school earlier and narrowing Kindergarten gap school uniforms mandatory uniforms became in 2006; takes away a layer of potential obstacles and extended learning time (ELT)

In Conclusion Cranford is more economically advantaged than Elizabeth  race, income, education Elizabeth has done a good job at changing the traditional path for their economically disadvantaged students PROBLEM: Christie Administration’s State Budget