The Impact of School Choice on Racial Segregation in Charter Schools

Abstract

This study captures the impact of school choice decisions by comparing the racial composition of the district schools students exited to the charter schools they entered. Charter school catchment areas are operationalized using a statewide student-level database to track school attendance patterns of individual students over 4 years. Charter elementary school choosers enter charter schools that are more racially segregated than the district schools they exited, although on entrance into high school, choosers enter charter schools that are as racially segregated or more integrated than the district schools they exited. In addition, racial segregation patterns are the result of White flight and Black and Native American students self-segregating into charter schools that are more racially isolated than the district schools they exit.