EDUCATION
Are Private Schools Better, or Simply More White-Centered?
An essay about school choice and racial equity
One factor that perpetuates racial inequality in America is the lopsided disbursement of educational resources. According to a study conducted by The Education Trust, districts with a majority of Black, Latino, and Native students receive significantly less state and local revenue, "as much as $2,700 per student—less than districts with the fewest students of color." In a district with 5,000 students, this amounts to a staggering $13.5 million gap in resources. How can we, as a country, claim that all people are entitled to equal opportunities while disproportionately allocating educational resources to districts with predominantly White students? It's a conundrum.
The problem of inequitable distribution of resources is compounded by the rising popularity of school voucher programs, which allow public school funds to be redirected to private schools, an opportunity disproportionately extended to White students. Draped in the language of "school choice," this modern incarnation of white flight is evident in the increasing number of White parents opting to send their children to private, primarily White schools rather than the underfunded public schools attended by many Black and Brown students. Offering…
