In a recent study of New York City suburbs it was found that "affluent school districts" have more than five times the number of students who they classify as autistic when compared to school districts on the opposite end of the economic spectrum.

The same report noted that many white parents actively sought out diagnosis and placements in special-education classes for the children out of the belief that the accommodations offered would positively improve their children's academic experience. Whereas Black and Hispanic parents tended to be warier of special-education placements since the education system's institutional racism which often leads to placement of Black and Hispanic students in classes beneath their ability level.