The Inequality of the Long Game in a City With School Choice and Changing Racial Demographics

Abstract

The percentage of White residents in the urban core increased during the last three decades. Meanwhile, urban school choice policies have changed school enrollment processes. Scholars must examine how White residents navigate school choice in this context to understand why racial segregation persists. We study White parents in a city with changing demographics and system-wide school choice. We use an exit, voice, and loyalty (EVL) framework to understand White parents’ values and procedures. We find White parents weigh exit more than voice, and disloyalty is the norm. These findings suggest the enrollment ecosystem's norms perpetuate school racial segregation.