Gentrification and School Segregation: A Comparative Analysis in Californian Cities

• In Event: (Re)Claiming Cities and Schools: Gentrification, School Closures, and Access to Opportunity

Abstract

This study examines the impact of gentrification on school segregation patterns in California
cities, focusing on Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego. It reveals a complex interplay
dependent on city and metro-specific dynamics. The findings indicate an increase in racial and
economic diversity in gentrified neighborhoods, with heterogeneous effects on local schools. The
research investigates if the return of White and middle-class families to gentrified areas aids in
school desegregation or just alters the geography of segregation. Our analysis underscores that
gentrification's influence on schools largely depends on local dynamics, policies, and
demographic factors, with potential implications for opportunity in the state.

Authors

• Kfir Mordechay, Pepperdine University

• Jenn Ayscue, North Carolina State University

• David Mickey-Pabello, University of California - Los Angeles