Schools' racial makeup divides San Juan Capistrano

Kinoshita and Del Obispo elementary schools are just an athletic field apart, but for many in San Juan Capistrano, the gap is a potent symbol of an issue that has roiled this south Orange County town in recent years: school segregation, writes the L.A. Times' H.G. Reza.

The schools are on the edge of a middle-class, mostly white neighborhood. But while Del Obispo's students are about 55% white, Kinoshita's enrollment is about 95% Latino. It is a disparity that former district teacher Gia Lugo said highlights the wide gap in race relations in this historic community.

"It's a fact of life in this town," she said. "Even in school you spend the day around your own kind."

The new school year begins today, with the ethnic makeup of the town's other two primary schools similarly skewed. Harold Ambuehl, east of Interstate 5, is 67% white, and San Juan, which is across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano, is 89% Latino.

Click here to read more about schools in San Juan Capistrano.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Comments

[Southoc]

If you read the entire story you will get it. Spanish in the schools is not working.

"Why aren't white children attending Kinoshita?"

The "white" kids move or use school of choice to avoid the gang mentality many of these kids have. These kids wander the streets unsupervised. The "white" kids will keep moving until the immigrants and the schools change their mind set.

It always amazes me that reporters only look at one side of the issue.

[Southoc]

The majority of the students who are Hispanic are from illegal parents. Almost no one speaks English in some of the stores. There are some houses/condos with 20 or more people living in them. San Juan has turned into T.J. Legal immigrants came here to get away from Mexico and become Americans.

The illegal bring the life style with them.

(I'm Hispanic by the way)