The 2000 census reported that 95 percent of Antioch residents are Caucasian. As of this year, 84 percent of Antioch Community High School students are Caucasian with only .4 percent being African American, according to the school report card. ACHS organizations strive to embrace and foster a diverse school environment.

The ACHS Diversity club was started five years ago by Jamie Ellinger-Macon to promote tolerance and celebrate differences. The club also wanted to serve as a visible profile for the less represented members of the ACHS community, largely by starting the Day of Silence to stand for all those whose voices are not heard. Diversity club also does activities during Black History Month.

The club recently branched off into the Rainbow Alliance, a social organization that helps outreach to the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer) community and fights for the group’s social respect.

The movement to embrace and celebrate diversity does not end there. Recognition of diversity is incorporated into the school’s social studies curriculum and the guidance department also started a LGBTQ support group. According to a recent survey conducted by the Tom Tom, 70 percent of participants supported same-sex marriage in Illinois.

“I think it is a very positive step in the right direction that we have a student body that was willing to embrace and celebrate someone’s individual diversity in that manner,” said ACHS Principal Bradford Hubbard. “I think diversity is something we should both embrace and celebrate because through [diversity] we are able to have people broaden their perspectives…[and hopefully gain]…a more global perspective through the lens of other people’s experiences. I think that diversity is something significant and and something that we need to work really hard on celebrating and embracing… I believe that it would be a disservice to our students if we didn’t [make decisions, plan different staff development days and plan activities for students] through the lens of  recognizing, celebrating and acknowledging the diversity that our students and staff bring to the table.”

Hubbard is very excited to see what further advances will be made to harbor diversity at ACHS.