Trying to bridge the grade divide in L.A. schools

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The eight students walked into a room at Lincoln High School prepared to discuss an issue that many people, including some of their teachers, consider taboo.

They were blunt. Carlos Garcia, 17, an A student with a knack for math, said: ‘My friends, most of them say, ‘You’re more Asian than Hispanic.’ ‘

‘I think Carlos is Asian at heart,’ said Julie Loc, 17, causing Carlos to laugh good-naturedly. Asian students who get middling grades often get another response, she said.

‘They say, ‘Are you really Asian?’ ‘ Julie said.

‘It’s sad but true,’ said Eliseo Garcia, a 17-year-old with long rocker hair, an easy manner and good grades. ‘I had an Asian friend, but he didn’t necessarily get that great a grades. We used to say, ‘He’s Mexican at heart.’

Read on to understand why Asian students generally get higher marks than Latinos.

-- Deborah Bonello in Los Angeles