Using Charter Schools to Alleviate Racial Exclusion in Rural America: An Innovative Idea or a Trojan Horse?

ABSTRACT

Racial segregation has remained a lasting legacy of rural schools in southern states. Our article explains a case where community leaders created a diverse charter school to change its historical practice of an isolated White private school and isolated African American public schools. We scan documents and literature related to this integration strategy to surface key themes when using rural charter schools to alter patterns of school segregation. First, we explain pressing issues in rural schools. Second, we describe how segregation and inequality have evolved in the South. Third, we explain research showing how charter schools maintain patterns of school segregation, but with exceptions and nuances in certain contexts. Fourth, we consider the benefits and tensions surrounding one rural charter school that offers an integrated educational program. Benefits range from societal to individual as the school fosters an environment where students are exposed to diverse educational experiences. Tensions include shifting power and funding dynamics and the possibility of using a good example to shepherd in less effective charter models elsewhere.

KEYWORDS:

• School segregation
• charter schools
• rural education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. These percentages are from the United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2017 estimates. While the town itself has seen an increasing share of Asian residents, the school district demographics per the National Centre of Education Statistics (NCES) shows only three Asian students in the district. It is not clear if Asian residents do not have children or if the children attend school elsewhere.