In almost every public school in the United States, attitudes and behaviors in the classroom presume an unacknowledged, yet pervasive, Christian norm. How does this affect students who are not Christian? The author's research into the life experiences of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh students of Indian American backgrounds uncovers the hidden cost of this "normalcy" in public schools. Many students reported school experiences in which their religious identity was ignored, marginalized or actively discriminated against in a host of ways. The intense turmoil caused by these experiences threatened their ethnic identity development, their relationships with peers and family members, and their academic outcomes. Their experiences offer insight and guidance for schools and educators.