A class action lawsuit has been filed against the wealthy Pennsylvania school district alleging racial discrimination against African American students. Parents allege Lower Merion School District segregates black students into remedial or modified classes and keeps them there even if they make progress. The lawsuit also points out that while only 7.5 percent of the 6,800 students in Lower Merion schools are black, remedial classes are filled with 90 percent black students.
Nearly 13 percent of black students in Lower Merion schools score below average in the fifth grade, 24 percent in the eighth grade, and 36 percent in the 11th grade. While only 3 percent of white students scored below basic in the fifth grade, 5 percent in the eighth grade, and 8 percent in the 11th grade.