SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Board of Education has released statistics showing that more than half of public school students in the state are considered low-income, and for the first time less than half of public school students are white.

The board says that the state’s white public school student population has dropped to 49.9 percent, while its Hispanic population has grown to 24.6 percent. It also said 51.5 percent of all Illinois public school students are considered low-income.

The board has said it will add a dozen new categories of data when it releases its annual report card later this month. The new metrics, including principal retention, college readiness and current college enrollment, aim to give parents and members of the community a better understanding of how the state analyzes the numbers.

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