District segregation

1979
united states

District segregation refers to the division of a city or region into separate neighborhoods or districts based on race, ethnicity, income level, or other social factors. This segregation can occur through various mechanisms, such as discriminatory housing practices, racial and economic disparities, or zoning policies.

District segregation can have significant implications for the residents of these neighborhoods. It can lead to disparities in access to resources and opportunities, such as quality education, healthcare, employment, and public services. Segregated districts often have higher levels of crime, poverty, and limited social mobility.

The historical roots of district segregation can be traced back to discriminatory practices such as redlining, which designated certain areas as "hazardous" or "undesirable" for investment based on racial composition. These practices have contributed to the perpetuation of racial and economic inequalities in many cities.

Efforts to address district segregation include legal protections against housing discrimination, affordable housing initiatives, and policies that promote neighborhood diversity and inclusion. Some cities have also implemented programs to revitalize disadvantaged neighborhoods and promote economic opportunities. However, despite these efforts, district segregation remains a persistent issue in many cities around the world.

Further reading

Logan J.R.; Zhang W.; Oakley D. (2017) "Court orders, white flight, and school district segregation, 1970 2010", Social Forces, 95(3), pp. 1049-1075. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/sf/sow104

Eitle D.; McNulty Eitle T. (2003) "Segregation and School Violence", Social Forces, 82(2), pp. 589-615. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1353/sof.2004.0007

Clotfelter C.T. (1999) "Public school segregation in metropolitan areas", Land Economics, 75(4), pp. 487-504. University of Wisconsin Press. DOI: 10.2307/3147061

Sosina V.E.; Weathers E.S. (2019) "Pathways to Inequality: Between District Segregation and Racial Disparities in School District Expenditures", AERA Open, 5(3), pp. -. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/2332858419872445

Liao K.; Lv P.; Wei S.; Fu T. (2023) "A Scientometric Review of Residential Segregation Research: A CiteSpace Based Visualization", Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(1), pp. -. MDPI. DOI: 10.3390/su15010448

Richards M.P.; Stroub K.J. (2020) "Metropolitan public school district segregation by race and income, 2000 2011", Teachers College Record, 122(5), pp. 21-41. Teachers College, Columbia University. DOI: [1]

Richards M.P.; Stroub K.J. (2020) "Metropolitan public school district segregation by race and income, 2000 2011", Teachers College Record, 122(5), pp. 21-41. Teachers College, Columbia University. DOI: [2]

Marcotte D.E.; Dalane K. (2019) "Socioeconomic Segregation and School Choice in American Public Schools", Educational Researcher, 48(8), pp. 493-503. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.3102/0013189X19879714

Owens A.; Reardon S.F.; Jencks C. (2016) "Income Segregation Between Schools and School Districts", American Educational Research Journal, 53(4), pp. 1159-1197. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.3102/0002831216652722

Owens A. (2016) "Inequality in Children’s Contexts: Income Segregation of Households with and without Children", American Sociological Review, 81(3), pp. 549-574. American Sociological Association. DOI: 10.1177/0003122416642430

Finnigan K.S.; Holme J.J.; Orfield M.; Luce T.; Diem S.; Mattheis A.; Hylton N.D. (2015) "Regional Educational Policy Analysis: Rochester, Omaha, and Minneapolis’ Inter District Arrangements", Educational Policy, 29(5), pp. 780-814. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0895904813518102

Finnigan K.S.; Holme J.J.; Orfield M.; Luce T.; Diem S.; Mattheis A.; Hylton N.D. (2015) "Regional Educational Policy Analysis: Rochester, Omaha, and Minneapolis’ Inter District Arrangements", Educational Policy, 29(5), pp. 780-814. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0895904813518102

Davis T.; Bhatt R.; Schwarz K. (2015) "School segregation in the era of accountability", Social Currents, 2(3), pp. 239-259. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/2329496515589852

Richards M.P. (2014) "The Gerrymandering of School Attendance Zones and the Segregation of Public Schools: A Geospatial Analysis", American Educational Research Journal, 51(6), pp. 1119-1157. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.3102/0002831214553652

Richards M.P.; Stroub K.J. (2014) "The fragmentation of metropolitan public school districts and the segregation of American schools: A longitudinal analysis", Teachers College Record, 116(12), pp. -. Teachers College, Columbia University. DOI: [3]

Holme J.J.; Finnigan K.S. (2013) "School diversity, school district fragmentation and metropolitan policy", Teachers College Record, 115(11), pp. -. Teachers College, Columbia University. DOI: [4]

Zhang C.H.; Walker M.A. (2012) "School segregation in Jefferson county and the affiliated louisville metropolitan area, USA", Journal of Maps, 8(4), pp. 379-385. . DOI: 10.1080/17445647.2012.750251

Eitle D.; Eitle T.M. (2010) "Public school segregation and juvenile violent crime arrests in metropolitan areas", Sociological Quarterly, 51(3), pp. 436-459. . DOI: 10.1111/j.1533-8525.2010.01181.x

Eitle D.; Eitle T.M. (2010) "Public school segregation and juvenile violent crime arrests in metropolitan areas", Sociological Quarterly, 51(3), pp. 436-459. . DOI: 10.1111/j.1533-8525.2010.01181.x

McCulloch A. (2007) "The changing structure of ethnic diversity and segregation in England, 1991 2001", Environment and Planning A, 39(4), pp. 909-927. . DOI: 10.1068/a37349

McCulloch A. (2007) "The changing structure of ethnic diversity and segregation in England, 1991 2001", Environment and Planning A, 39(4), pp. 909-927. . DOI: 10.1068/a37349

Renzulli L.A. (2006) "District segregation, race legislation, and black enrollment in charter schools", Social Science Quarterly, 87(3), pp. 618-637. . DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00400.x

Reardon S.F.; Yun J.T. (2001) "Suburban racial change and suburban school segregation, 1987 95", Sociology of Education, 74(2), pp. 79-101. American Sociological Association. DOI: 10.2307/2673164

Reardon S.F.; Yun J.T.; Eitle T.M. (2000) "The changing structure of school segregation: Measurement and evidence of multiracial metropolitan area school segregation, 1989 1995", Demography, 37(3), pp. 351-364. Duke University Press. DOI: 10.2307/2648047

Reardon S.F.; Yun J.T.; Eitle T.M. (2000) "The changing structure of school segregation: Measurement and evidence of multiracial metropolitan area school segregation, 1989 1995", Demography, 37(3), pp. 351-364. Duke University Press. DOI: 10.2307/2648047

Wurdock C. (1979) "Public school resegregation after desegregation: Some preliminary findings", Sociological Focus, 12(4), pp. 263-274. . DOI: 10.1080/00380237.1979.10570352