demographic

Philadelphia's population in 1950 was over 2 million. Over 70% of the population was European American (white). By 2000, Philadelphia had less than 1.5 million people and the European and African American population was almost identical. The percentage of African American, Latino/a and Asian America students in the School District steadily increased. In 1940, 20.4% of the students in Philadelphia schools were African American. By 2001, 65.3 % of the student body was African American, 4.9% Asian American, 13.1% Latino/a, and 16.4% European American.

Northeast High School began a voluntary desegregation program in 1977 - 78 for staff and students. By 1982 - 1983, nearly 30% of the student body was African American. In 2002-2003, nearly 30% of the student body is African American. Today there are more Asian American and Latino/a students than in the late 1970s. Northeast continues to have a significant number of immigrant students from all around the world.

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Changing Philadelphia Demographics
from presentation by Dr. Anne Phillips

Demographic changes in the U.S.:
During the 1950s, 1.5 million African American migrated from rural areas to urban areas
During the 1960s, 1.4 million African American migrated from rural areas to urban areas

Demographic changes in Philadelphia:
Between 1940 and 1950, 90,635 African Americans migrated to Philadelphia
Between 1950 and 1960, 64,974 African American migrated to Philadelphia
In the decade 1950 - 1960, Philadelphia's African American, Latino/a, and Asian
American population increased 41.2%; the European American population declined 13.3%

African American demographic isolation:
North and West Philadelphia became "virtually" African American
Racial change occurred quickly in Strawberry Mansion, Tioga and Southwest Philadelphia
Between 1930 - 1970, the index of African American isolation in Philadelphia rose from
27.3% - 75.6%
In the 1950s, Philadelphia's Puerto Rican community began to increase.

Demographics in Philadelphia schools:
The rapid transformation of the racial makeup of neighborhoods was matched in the schools
African American students enrollment went from 20.4% in 1940 to 47% in 1960
African Americans were the majority of students, 51%, in 1960 in elementary schools
Less than half of the European Americans students, 48%, were enrolled in public schools while 92% of African American students were enrolled in public schools

U.S. Census data until 1960 included a "foreign born" category. The data is separate from African American and European American though immigrants represented different regions of the world. In 1950 "other races" was included." This includes Latino/as, Asian Americans and Native Americans / Pacific Islanders. (source: U.S. Census Data)

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We did not find information with this map. Therefore, we aren't positive how the map was used. Nevertheless, it appears to have demographic data that could be used for the School District voluntary desegregation program. We don't know why there is a distinction between "Puerto Rican" and "Spanish Language."

From 1977-78 - 1981-82, the School District listed "racial composition" as "Black," "Hispanic" and "Other." Therefore, we don't know the exact percentage of European or Asian American students. In 1982 - 1983, students were classified as "American Indian/Alaskan, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black (Non-Hispanic) and White (Non-Hispanic). Therefore, in 1982 -83, 66.7% of Northeast students were "white" and 2.4% were "Asian/Pacific Islander." In 2001-02, 51.3% of the students were "white" and 10.5% "Asian." In 2002-03, 45.4% are "white" and 12.4% are "Asian." (information from "Pupil Data" files from the School District of Philadelphia)