Rochester, NY Demographics

Let’s concede that we have decided to let our children grow up in two separate nations, and lead two separate kinds of lives. If, on the other hand, we have the courage to rise to this challenge to name what’s happening within our inner-city schools, then we also need the courage to be activist and go out and fight like hell to change it.
– Jonathan Kozol

Year 2000

• CITY POPULATION: 219,773
• Population per square mile Rochester, NY: 6,132.93
• United States: 79.56

RACE AND ETHNICITY

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

PER CAPITA INCOME BY RACE/ETHNICITY Rochester United States

POVERTY RATE Rochester United States

From left, Cherokee Hardman, 1, gets fed by his mother, Lisa, as Lisa's daughter Khadija, 4, reaches for the tray at St. Peter's Kitchen in Rochester on Wednesday. Hardman attends lunch at the kitchen twice a week.

Source: Democrat and Chronicle, http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=2006603230363

Rochester, NY ranked 235th out of 245 United States cities in highest poverty rate for children (with 245 being the cities with the highest rate.)

“. . . Poverty has been found to have consistently negative effects on children's cognitive growth . . .. Family income may influence children through both lack of resources and parental emotional stress. Finally, poor children have more health and behavior difficulties than those from more affluent families, which mitigates against educational success.” – Jean Anyon

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

ILLITERACY

In 1992, 57% of those 16 and older living in the city of Rochester were "deemed unable to function successfully in society" because of their illiteracy, according to a 2001 Democrat and Chronicle article. (http://www.literacyrochester.org/DandCliteracyArticle.htm)

“Kids are coming in (to school) with a thousand social issues–violence in their lives, the numbers of foster children, gangs, drugs, alcohol . . .. And that's overwhelming when you have to teach reading also.”
– Jane Fleming

UNEMPLOYMENT

ILLEGAL NARCOTICS

“The reasons for youth leaving school are varied. However, experience shows that many youth who leave school inevitably enter the drug trade to support their drug habit, or as a means to financially support their families or themselves. In other words, youth view drug selling as a viable option to employment.

In areas where economic resources are very tight and opportunities seem limited, many youth are selling drugs and giving proceeds to parents. Many neighbors view the sales as providing income to make ends meet for the familys budget; this is one reason why neighbors may not report sales to the police.”

Source: http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/rochesterstrategy.pdf

CRIME

• Crime Type 2004 Total
• Rochester Violent Crimes 1782
• Rochester Murders 36
• Rochester Rapes 91
• Rochester Robberies 934
• Rochester Aggravated Assaults 721

Source: http://rochesterny.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER'S ROLE

In 2005 U of R surpassed Kodak and Xerox as Rochester, NY's largest employer. Although there are many area colleges, U of R is the only one completely within city limits.

The U of R strives to involve its campus community with the greater Rochester community which surrounds it.

“Those of us in education who have social justice as a goal can play a crucial role in movement building for economic and educational rights of the poor. We can do this in our daily lives, as we 'cast down our buckets' where we are. We can commit to the radical possibilities in our everyday work in schools, despite the onslaught of institutional mandates.” – Jean Anyon

Next page – RCSD Information

produced in conjunction with RCCL, CSN, RCSD and the Ed Tech Center.

Last modified: Thursday, 14-Sep-2006 10:54:10 EDT