Chicago school segregation

Date and country of first publication

1963
United States

Definition

School segregation in Chicago has been a long-standing issue that has persisted for decades. It is rooted in a combination of historical policies, socioeconomic factors, and racial discrimination.

One key factor contributing to school segregation in Chicago is residential segregation. The city has a long history of racially segregated neighborhoods, largely as a result of discriminatory practices such as redlining and restrictive covenants. These practices limited where African American and other minority communities could live, resulting in concentrated areas of poverty and limited access to quality education.

Another factor is the impact of school district boundaries and school choice policies. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is divided into multiple districts, and schools in predominantly white neighborhoods tend to have more resources and higher-performing students compared to those in predominantly minority neighborhoods. School choice policies, such as selective enrollment schools and charter schools, have further contributed to the segregation issue, as they often exacerbate racial and socioeconomic disparities by allowing students with more resources and support to access higher-performing schools.

Furthermore, school funding disparities also contribute to school segregation in Chicago. Public schools are primarily funded through property taxes, which means that schools in lower-income neighborhoods have fewer resources compared to those in wealthier areas. This creates a cycle of concentrated poverty and limited opportunities for students in these neighborhoods.

The impact of school segregation is significant. Segregated schools tend to have fewer resources, higher dropout rates, and lower test scores. They also perpetuate social and economic inequalities by limiting access to quality education and opportunities for minority students.

Efforts to address school segregation in Chicago have been ongoing. In recent years, there have been initiatives to decrease residential segregation, such as affordable housing programs and fair housing policies. Additionally, there have been attempts to reform school choice policies and increase funding equity in order to provide equal opportunities for all students.

However, despite these efforts, school segregation in Chicago remains a complex issue deeply intertwined with systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and historical policies. Further action is needed to truly address and dismantle the segregation present in the city's schools.

Chicago school segregation appears in the following literature

Baron H. (1963). History of Chicago School Segregation to 1953. Equity and Excellence in Education, 1(1), 17-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020486630010106