Unmasking Chicago School Segregation: From Systemic Racism to Policy Failures
The segregation problem in Chicago Public Schools is tied to systemic racism and classism rather than specific types of schools, says Valerie F. Leonard in an opinion piece. She focuses on Whitney Young school, which was originally designed to reflect the city’s racial makeup and maintain fairness through a lottery system. As the school’s academic performance improved, the local demographics shifted, resulting in policy changes and gentrification. A switch to a “color-blind” enrollment system further contributed to racial disparities. Leonard criticizes charter schools and school turnarounds, claiming they often underperform despite receiving more resources. To redress historical harms, she suggests focusing on building neighborhood schools without political agendas.
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