Siting for Segregation? The Effects of Accessibility on Charter School Racial and Ethnic Composition

• In Event: Evaluating Charter Schools: Beyond Average Achievement Effects

Abstract

Despite their initial promise as an instrument of integration, abundant evidence suggests that charter schools have had segregative effects. Employing a spatial interaction framework, this study examines how charter siting influences charter equity. Using a sample of 2,215 charters from 25 metropolitan areas, we predict charter diversity and demographics as a function of its accessibility to students of different racial/ethnic groups. Findings suggest that, consistent with the impedance of distance, charters generally mirror the demographics of their surrounding areas. However, while accessibility is a key determinant of enrollment for most racial groups, white students avoid charters located near blacks, even when they are close to whites. Thus, for whites, the preference for whiter schools may supersede spatial proximity.

Authors

• Kori James Stroub, The University of Texas - Austin

• Meredith Paige Richards, Southern Methodist University