School Integration Impacts on Residential Change: Evaluation and Tests

Abstract

The assertions of links between school segregation and segregation in housing are evaluated in a case study of housing patterns and school integration in part of the Los Angeles metropolitan region. The indices of separation/segregation show that although schools in many instances were integrated with voluntary and then mandatory pupil assignments, the housing patterns changed little. However, there was a substantial increase in private school enrollment. This latter response is consistent with the residential choice literature which indicates significant white flight when there is intervention in school systems.