Schools Named After President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama

Schools across the country have honored President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama by “namesaking—“ naming schools in their honor. These schools paint a panorama of a divided nation, one separated by race, class, and place. More than 90 percent of students who attend the namesake schools are black and Latino. Fewer than 4 percent are white. Students at the Obama schools are nearly 60 percent more likely to qualify for free or low-cost meals than their peers nationwide, according to an Education Week Research Center analysis of federal data. The schools are scattered throughout 11 states, concentrated on the East and West coasts, and are almost exclusively found in urban and suburban areas.