By Kevin Palmer
There is a difference between high school graduates from two of the best schools in predominately black Richmond County and predominately white Columbia County in Georgia. The difference is, on average, when it comes to earning a bachelor’s degree in five years, Richmond County graduates earned more.
Greenbrier and Lakeside High Schools in Columbia County were compared to Davidson and Johnson Magnet schools in Richmond County. According to data supplied by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, High School Outcomes Report, the class of 2009, 2010, and 2011 were tracked after five years to show the percentage of bachelor’s earned.
For Bachelor’s degrees earned after five years, Greenbrier class of 2009, 32%, class of 2010, 32%, and class of 2011, 35%; Lakeside class of 2009, 39%, class of 2010, 35%, and class of 2011, 35%. Bachelor’s degrees earned for Davidson class of 2009, 62%, class of 2010, 52%, and class of 2011, 49%; Johnson class of 2009, 30%, class of 2010, 31%, and class of 2011, 35%.
This comparison shows even though students from a predominantly black, economically disadvantaged school district had fewer resources, in five years they earned more bachelor’s degrees than students from a predominantly white, economically advantaged school district. For this reason, a system of unfairness exists because whites know blacks are more resourceful which is why they are afraid to compete on a level economic playing field.
