Jordan Banks
Jordan is the protagonist and narrator of New Kid. A Black seventh grader from Washington Heights in New York City, Jordan loves to draw cartoons and wants to go to an arts-focused high school. His mother enrolls him in Riverdale Academy Day School because she wants him to pursue an elite education and have career opportunities she and his father didn't have. Jordan struggles to adapt to RAD, finding himself one of only a few Black students among wealthy white kids. However, over his first year, Jordan makes valuable connections with students from different class and ethnic backgrounds while learning to speak out against the constant microaggressions he encounters.
Liam Landers
Liam Landers is a white seventh grader at RAD. As Jordan's "guide," Liam is tasked with showing Jordan around the school. This formal relationship leads to a genuine friendship between the boys, who bond over Xbox games they play together. Liam is ashamed of his family's extreme wealth, and worries Jordan won't want to be his friend because he is so rich. Liam is pleased when he becomes friends with Jordan and Drew.
Drew Ellis
Drew Ellis is a Black seventh-grade student at RAD. Drew becomes a popular figure at the school as a starting quarterback and honor-roll student, but he doesn't connect on a deeper level with anyone until he befriends Jordan. Drew bonds with Jordan over their frustration at white people at RAD mixing them up with other Black students. Drew is on financial aid and lives with his grandmother in the Bronx. At the end of the book, he isn't sure whether he wants to keep going to RAD, but he believes his grandmother will want him to stick it out.
Mr. Garner
Mr. Garner is Jordan's pre-algebra teacher. Despite having worked at RAD for fourteen years, Mr. Garner is mistaken for the school's Black coach by a white teacher. Although he is frustrated to be misidentified himself, Garner encourages Jordan to ignore when people mix him up with Maury.
Andy
Andy is a white seventh-grade student at RAD. Loud and obnoxious, Andy has a reputation as an attention-seeker who casually provokes other students—particularly students of color. Jealous that Drew is chosen as quarterback over him, Andy harasses Drew often, leading to Drew fighting back against him in the cafeteria. The shoving match lands them both in trouble. Andy's only real friend is Collin, who is expelled from RAD after the headmaster learns he joined Andy's family on vacation in Hawaii—an expensive trip that a financial aid–student shouldn't have been able to afford.
Collin
Collin is a white seventh-grader at RAD. He becomes Andy's only friend after joining the school. However, Collin is expelled from RAD when the headmaster learns Collin joined Andy's family's Hawaiian vacation; the headmaster suspects Collin's parents of taking financial aid for Collin in bad faith if they can afford to send him on an expensive vacation.
Chuck Banks
Chuck is Jordan's father. He runs the local community center, having left the stressful corporate world to which his wife still belongs. In contrast to his wife, Chuck leaves open the possibility that Jordan can go to art school in ninth grade instead of suffering through RAD. Chuck teaches Jordan the importance of a firm handshake, something he learned from his own father.
Kirk
Kirk is Jordan's oldest friend. Unlike Jordan, Kirk goes to public school in Washington Heights. Although Kirk is put off by the sight of Jordan being driven home in Liam's car, and though the two drift apart while Jordan is busy with his RAD schoolwork, they reconnect over the Christmas break and reaffirm their affection for each other.
Ellice Banks
Ellice is Jordan's mother. Excited by the idea of her son attending an elite private school, Ellice dismisses any complaints from Jordan or her husband about the lack of diversity at RAD. Ellice reminds them that Jordan needs to learn to succeed in a white-dominated society, just as she is one of only forty-eight African Americans in an elite company of 1,200.
Bill Landers
Bill is Liam's father. A white, wealthy businessman, Bill assures Chuck that he is making the right decision in sending Jordan to RAD. Bill appears uncomfortable when standing on the Banks's doorstep in the ethnically diverse area of Washington Heights. Bill is away most of the time for business or golf trips, leading to conflict at the Landers household. His son wishes he were home more often.
