Trading Places: Reassignment and Desegregation in Wake County Public Schools

• In Event: Tracking, Labeling, and Sorting

Abstract

Wake County Public School System utilized a student assignment plan based on SES and prior achievement to replace their previous race-based student assignment plan. The plan relies on a system of intra-district choice as well as changing school assignments to balance school demographics. We explore how parents respond to the policy in this choice context. We find reassignment to reduce rates of attending zoned schools among all racial groups with White students being more sensitive to reassignment than their Black and Hispanic peers.

Authors

• Thurston Domina, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• James Samuel Carter, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Andrew McEachin, NWEA

• Matthew A Lenard, Harvard University

• Deven E. Carlson, University of Oklahoma