The "White" versus the "Black" Cafeteria

Demographic Statistics

After students commented on their feelings about how their race affects the classes they take, we wanted to dig deeper into the exact numbers behind these statements. Learning about the breakdown of the students in Honors and AP classes, we were able to compare them to the ethnic summary of the whole school.

Percentage of Caucasians at Westhill: 40.35%
Percentage of Hispanics at Westhill: 31.55%
Percentage of African Americans at Westhill: 22.85%
Percentage of Asians at Westhill: 5.25%


Percentage of Caucasians that are in at least one Honors or AP class: 61.3%
Percentage of Asians that are in at least one Honors or AP class: 57.3%
Percentage of Hispanics that are in at least one Honors or AP class: 22.6%
Percentage of African Americans that are in at least one Honors or AP class: 13.5%


Percentage of students at Westhill who are in at least one Honors or AP class: 38%

Only 38% of the school is in at least one Honors or AP class and from that, 61.3% of those student are Caucasian. The remaining 38.7% is split amongst the three minority groups. This is even after the fact that the minorities at Westhill combined make up the majority of the school.

The Method

In order to accurately document the issue at hand, it was our mission to only provide information rather than influence. The blog itself is meant to be completely unbiased and uninfluenced by our personal beliefs. Rather, it will serve only as an outlet of expression for our peers, interrupted only by the publication of the hard facts. None of the testimonials are influenced from any outside source other than the person's own opinions. It is our purpose to allow students to act as their own living documentation of the issue at hand.

Alex, Shivali and Erin.

The Purpose and the Inspiration

Smack dab in the middle of one of the richest counties in the nation, stands Westhill High School, the "proud" home of over 2400 students. One of the defining characteristics of this school is its unique diversity, a breathe of fresh air in the often one-noted area of "snooty" Fairfield County. However, the wide range of demographics the school offers does not always prove to be a "melting pot of cultures" or scaled utopian version of integration. Rather, two of the school's defining characteristics are the "black" and "white" cafeterias. Divided somewhat apparently by race, the self-segregation is an alarming occurance, sending gossip-ridden whispers through freshman halls warning one to "stay on their side." Although there are without a doubt exceptions to this trend, neither the students nor staff of the large high school can deny that within the school lie boundaries that few try to cross. Whether this split occurs deliberately or unintentionally is an unanswered question, and the possibility of breaking the race barriers within the school's cultures is one that proves to be the bigger conundrum. For now, one can only probe at the race relations that occur at Westhill, and examine not only what is black, and what is white, but instead delve into

The Grey Area.