Can Our Schools Capture the Educational Gains of Diversity? - North Carolina School Segregation, Alternatives and Possible Gains

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rhys

Explores whether U.S. public schools can realize educational gains from diversity amid ongoing racial segregation in North Carolina. The report reviews the post-Brown trajectory of desegregation policy, including shifts in comprehensive implementation and later resegregation patterns. Using demographic and school enrollment data, it analyzes segregation by race, locale, and school type, then assesses exposure to students of different races. It closes with recommendations spanning district, state, and federal efforts to improve integration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages46

Reading Time1 h 56 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

Why School Desegregation Matters

Post-Brown History of School Desegregation in North Carolina

Initial Policies

Comprehensive School Desegregation

Resegragation of North Carolina Schools

Current Context of School Desegregation in North Carolina

Demographic Changes

Sociopolitical Context

School Choice

Housing and Residential Segregation

Data and Methods

Results

North Carolina Public School Enrollment

Segregated Schools of Color

Summary

Recommendations

District Efforts

State Efforts

Federal Efforts

Can Our Schools Capture the Educational Gains of Diversity? North Carolina School Segregation, Alternatives and Possible Gains Jennifer B. Ayscue, Victor Cadilla, Mary Kathryn Oyaga, and Cassandra Rubinstein May 2024 Suggested citation: Ayscue, J. B., Cadilla, V., Oyaga, M. K., & Rubinstein, C. (May 2024) . Can Our Schools Capture the Educational Gains of Diversity? North Carolina School Segregation, Alternativesand Possible Gains. Los Angeles, CA: Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles, UCLA. © 2024 Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles, UCLA. Table of Contents Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................4 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................7 Why School Desegregation Matters ................................................................................................9 Post-Brown History of School Desegregation in North Carolina ..................................................10 Initial Policies ............................................................................................................................. 10 Comprehensive School Desegregation.......................................................................................11 Resegregation of North Carolina Schools ..................................................................................13 Current Context of School Desegregation in North Carolina ........................................................17 Demographic Changes ............................................................................................................... 18 Sociopolitical Context ................................................................................................................ 19 School Choice.............................................................................................................................20 Housing and Residential Segregation.........................................................................................23 Data and Methods ..........................................................................................................................23 Results ............................................................................................................................................25 North Carolina Public School Enrollment..................................................................................25 Segregated Schools of Color ......................................................................................................26 Black and Hispanic Students in Segregated Schools of Color ...................................................27 White Students in Segregated White Schools ............................................................................29 Exposure to Students of Different Races ...................................................................................29 Double Segregation by Race and Poverty ..................................................................................30 Segregation by Locale ................................................................................................................31 Enrollment and Segregation by School Type .............................................................................32 Enrollment and Segregation by Grade Level .............................................................................34 Summary ....................................................................................................................................36 Recommendations ..........................................................................................................................37 District Efforts ............................................

FAQs

What question does the report investigate about school diversity?

It asks whether schools can capture the educational gains that diversity should provide, given continuing segregation in North Carolina schools.

How does the report describe the history of desegregation in North Carolina?

It outlines post-Brown policy developments, including initial policies, comprehensive desegregation, and later resegregation.

What types of recommendations does the report offer to reduce segregation?

Recommendations are directed to district, state, and federal efforts to support integration and improve access to diverse student populations.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rhys