Introduction to Segregation in Schools

Decades after the watershed Brown v. Board of Education decision, multiple studies confirm that K–12 public schools across the country are more racially segregated today than they were in 1954, when the case was decided. Just weeks before the 71st anniversary of that historic ruling, the U.S. Department of Justice quietly ended a long-standing federal school desegregation order in Louisiana — a case that had remained under court supervision since 1966. The news received little national attention, but experts warn it could mark the beginning of a bigger unraveling of the legal protections Brown made possible for Black students.

Resegregation Is Already a Reality

Despite national claims of progress since Brown, the number of majority-minority public schools has actually increased. That retreat, fueled in part by white flight, contributed to deep racial inequities in access to quality education that decades of federal policy under different presidential administrations have failed to close. Even though Brown was handed down generations ago, more than 130 school districts nationwide are still under federal desegregation orders, according to the UCLA Civil Rights Project. But research shows that when those orders are lifted, Black students are likely to end up in highly segregated, under-resourced schools within just a few years.

Impact on Educational Opportunities

“Almost every dimension of educational opportunity — including teacher qualifications, curriculum, experienced administrators, and access to AP courses — is linked to segregation by race and poverty,” says Dr. Gary Orfield, Co-Director of the UCLA Civil Rights Project. That level of segregation continues to result in worse academic outcomes for Black students. A 2023 report from the Southern Education Foundation, “Miles to Go: The State of Black Education,” found that Black students are consistently behind in reading, math, science, and graduation rates compared to their white peers — a backslide from gains made in earlier decades when desegregation orders were more aggressively enforced.

Less Oversight, More Barriers

In underfunded districts where desegregation mandates have lapsed, Black students are far more likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers, face larger class sizes, and have less access to advanced coursework. Without federal oversight, many schools will no longer be required to track — let alone correct — racial disparities in student access or outcomes. The DOJ’s Louisiana order doesn’t just raise alarms about the future; it reopens wounds from the past: “Those segregated schools were staffed by thousands of Black teachers and administrators,” says Raymond Pierce, President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation. “They were pillars in our communities. But many lost their jobs during desegregation. That’s the part people forget.”

Consequences of Reduced Oversight

Orfield also adds that desegregation cases were more than symbolic — they were legal tools that forced education systems to address racial inequality. Now, he says, that burden falls back on Black families, who often lack the resources to file new complaints with the Education Department or challenge discriminatory school policies in court. The desegregation court orders “were designed and put in place to correct decades of state-sanctioned neglect,” he says. “Dropping them without real compliance means abandoning that responsibility.”

A Renewed Call to Action

Pierce says whether the courts move slowly — or not at all — Black families and communities don’t have the luxury to wait. He says they must fight for fair education now. “We need to start attending school board meetings and asking the real questions,” he says. “Do we have enough math teachers? Do our kids have access to broadband? Are they even learning what they need to survive and thrive? That’s where the fight is now.” He also encourages Black communities to lift up Black teachers, who have historically played a critical role in guiding and protecting Black students: “The Black teaching profession used to be the backbone of our communities,” Pierce says. “We need to bring that back.”

Community Involvement

And adds that everyone has a role to play in correcting modern-day segregation. “We can’t check out. This is about Jim Crow — and the children of the people who survived it,” Pierce says. “If we don’t fight for them, who will?”

Conclusion

The issue of segregation in schools is a persistent and complex problem that requires immediate attention and action. The lifting of desegregation orders without ensuring equity has been achieved can have severe consequences for Black students, including limited access to quality education and reduced opportunities for social mobility. It is essential for communities to come together to fight for fair education and to support Black teachers and students.

FAQs

1. What is the current state of segregation in schools?

   • Despite the Brown v. Board of Education decision, schools are more segregated today than they were in 1954.

2. What happens when desegregation orders are lifted?

   • When desegregation orders are lifted, Black students are likely to end up in highly segregated, under-resourced schools.

3. How does segregation affect educational opportunities?

   • Segregation affects every dimension of educational opportunity, including teacher qualifications, curriculum, experienced administrators, and access to AP courses.

4. What can communities do to address segregation?

   • Communities can attend school board meetings, support Black teachers, and fight for fair education to address segregation.
5. Why is it important to address segregation?
   • Addressing segregation is crucial to ensure that Black students have equal access to quality education and opportunities for social mobility.