Hispanic children the fastest growing numbers in US public schools system

For the first time, US public schools are projected this autumn to have more minority students than non-Hispanic whites, a shift largely fuelled by growth in the number of Hispanic children.

The changing demographics of education are apparent inside Jane Cornell's summer school classroom in Pennsylvania's wealthiest county, where many come from homes where Spanish is the primary language. The sign outside the classroom reads "Welcome" and "Bienvenidos".

Non-Hispanic white students are still expected to be the largest racial group in public schools this year at 49.8 per cent, but according to the National Centre for Education Statistics, minority students, when combined, make up the majority.

About one-quarter of students are Hispanic, 15 per cent black and 5 per cent are Asian and Pacific islanders. Bi-racial students and Native Americans make up an even smaller share of the minority student population.

The shift brings new realities, such as the need for more English-language instruction, and cultural ones, such as changing menus to reflect tastes.

But it also raises complex societal questions that often fall to school systems to address, including immigration, poverty, diversity and inequity.