The students in this study attended a suburban elementary school in southeastern Massachusetts. The community population in 2005 was reported to be approximately 5,000 with the majority being white. A smaller number of the community was African American, and less than 1% percent represented American Indian, Asian, or Native Hawaiian racial and ethnic groups.
For the 2005-2006 school year, there were approximately 500 students enrolled in this school from preschool to fifth-grade, with a majority of the students representing middle to upper class socioeconomic status. The enrollment by gender was reported to be approximately 220 males and 280 females with approximately 3% of the population being African American, and less than 1% percent being Hispanic Multi-Race Non-Hispanic, and Asian. A small portion of the population required Special Education services.