The authors look at important demographic trends that will have an effect on schools, including roller-coaster enrollments and increasing diversity. For example, compared with 10 years ago, the average child entering a U.S. school today is less likely to live in a family with two married parents but is more likely to have a living grandparent, reside in a family with secure parental employment, encounter classmates of other races and ethnicities who speak a language other than English at home, and become obese. At the other end of the age spectrum, older adults in the United States are more educated and can expect to live longer and healthier than previous generations. Programs like Experience Corps, which channels the talent and energy of growing numbers of older adults into public and community service, provide significant benefits for the older Americans who participate and help address students' academic needs. (Contains 3 notes.)