SOMA WHITE POPULATION GROWING, BLACKS DECREASING

More whites, Asians and Hispanics are moving into South Orange and Maplewood, while fewer blacks are joining our community, according to a new report from the Community Coalition on Race.

The 46-page report was presented at a public meeting last month and also noted that blacks are declining in population at all district schools except Seth Boyden, where they continue to increase and are now above 65%. Tuscan School has the largest percentage of white students, at about 66%.

Columbia High School, where more than half of the students were black until 2013, now has just 45% African-Americans. White CHS students, meanwhile, have increased from below 40% for most of the past 15 years to 45% as well, with estimates that they will surpass the black population in coming years.

"The white share will continue to rise for some years," the report stated. "As the students now in the middle schools, which are still getting whiter, enter CHS."

The report blames much of the change on a "lack of lower cost housing," adding, "we currently serve well those making over $100,000 in terms of housing affordability but have fewer options for those earning less than $100,000."

It also stated: "the income of black residents in both towns is lower and there is an increasing gap between blacks and whites."

See the entire report HERE.