Multischool racial segregation

Date and country of first publication

2000
United States

Definition

Multischool racial segregation refers to the phenomenon where racial segregation in schools occurs across multiple schools within a given district or region. Unlike single-school segregation, which focuses on segregation within individual schools, multischool segregation involves patterns of racial separation that are observed across several schools within an educational system.

Key aspects of multischool racial segregation include:

1. Systemic Patterns: It reflects a broader, systemic issue where racial groups are unevenly distributed across multiple schools within a district or region. This can result from various factors, including residential segregation, school zoning policies, and enrollment patterns.

2. Impact of Enrollment Practices: Enrollment practices, such as school choice programs, magnet schools, or charter schools, can contribute to multischool segregation by allowing families to select schools based on preferences that may correlate with racial or socioeconomic status.

3. Spatial and Economic Factors: Multischool segregation can be influenced by geographic factors, such as residential segregation patterns, as well as economic disparities that affect school funding and resources.

4. Educational and Social Implications: It can have significant implications for educational equity and outcomes. Schools with higher concentrations of racial minorities or lower-income students may face greater challenges in terms of resources, academic achievement, and overall school climate.

5. Policy and Interventions: Addressing multischool racial segregation often requires systemic policy interventions at the district or regional level. Efforts may include revising school assignment policies, promoting diversity in school admissions, equitable funding distribution, and fostering inclusive school environments.

Overall, multischool racial segregation underscores the complex interplay between educational policies, residential patterns, socioeconomic factors, and racial dynamics within communities. Addressing this issue is crucial for promoting educational equity and creating more inclusive and diverse learning environments.

Related segregation forms

Multischool racial segregation is frequently discussed in the literature with the following segregation forms:

school segregation

This visualization is based on the study The Multidisciplinary Landscape of Segregation Research.

For the complete network of interrelated segregation forms, please refer to:

• First year of publication

• Louvain clusters

• Betweenness centrality

• Disciplines in which segregation forms first emerged (Scopus database).

Multischool racial segregation appears in the following literature

Reardon S.F., Yun J.T., Eitle T.M. (2). The changing structure of school segregation: Measurement and evidence of multiracial metropolitan area school segregation, 1989 1995. Demography, 37(3), 351-364. Duke University Press.https://doi.org/10.2307/2648047