The RACE COUNTS 2024 Report shows where the state’s systems still significantly discriminate against communities of color, but it also spotlights areas where, through their advocacy and involvement, these communities have begun to pull their governments toward more equity. That progress faces a considerable possibility of reversal as an unfriendly federal administration takes over, with plans to target California in large and small ways.
What is New This Year
Data on Law Enforcement Traffic Stops
This year, RACE COUNTS includes a new data indicator for the safety and justice issue area – law enforcement traffic stops. This data collected by the California Department of Justice, under the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA), examines disparities for various aspects of law enforcement traffic stops, from the reasons for the stops to results of the stops.
Data for SWANA Community
For the first time, RACE COUNTS this year includes data for the Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) community in California. Estimates for SWANA people are only available for only 14 indicators. Despite the limited and inconsistent data for this population, we have been able to shine a light on some of the inequities that this community faces, making them more visible. This was possible because more sources included SWANA data and we advanced our data disaggregation methods.
Los Angeles County Findings
Our updated data show that in LA County, despite slight improvements, chronic absenteeism among students of color remains stubbornly high. About 38% of Black students miss school too often—down from last year’s 43%, but still the highest of any group. Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander students follow at 36%, also down from last year. Asian students had the best rate at 8%, slightly better than White students.
RACE COUNTS updated its data on officer-initiated traffic stops, showing law enforcement officers initiated 181 stops per 1,000 Black residents in Los Angeles, followed by Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander residents with a rate of 124.9.
Fresno County Findings
The Safety & Justice issue area had the best outcomes for the county (though still below average for the state), while the worst outcomes were in Healthy Built Environment. Across all indicators, Black residents in Fresno County are the most impacted by racial inequities.
American Indian and Alaska Native residents have the worst asthma rate in Fresno – one out of three American Indian and Alaska Native residents has been diagnosed with asthma in Fresno.
Sacramento County Findings
In Sacramento County, Third Grade English Language Arts has the most racial disparity. Despite students making some progress within the classroom with slight increases in English language arts and math scores last school year, updated data shows fewer than half of students are proficient (41%). Additionally, schools produce even lower proficiency rates among Black, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Latinx students.
Black residents in Sacramento are most impacted by housing inequity, with a homeownership rate of 36%. By contrast, White residents had the highest rate at 65%. Additionally, only 22% of owner-occupied housing belongs to Black, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Latinx owners. These continued racial disparities are a serious concern, and further demonstrate the need for more housing within high-need communities.