Are We Segregated and Satisfied? Segregation and Inequality in Southern California Schools

Abstract

Southern California is facing a demographic transformation that will become characteristic of the nation as a whole in coming decades. In this research, we present a historical review of the region’s attempt to address school inequity, recent enrollment and segregation trends, and an investigation of whether segregation still matters. Our results indicate that school segregation has increased, with inequitable access to learning opportunities and resources enduring. Policies advocating integration by some combination of socioeconomic status, race, and/or linguistic background are legal, offer real possibilities, and should be used in Southern California and other similar regions across the nation.