Full Citation
Title: School Choice in Black and White: Private School Enrollment Among Racial Groups, 1990-2000
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2009
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Abstract: This study investigates how much the racial composition of communities influences the private schoolenrollment rates of members of different racial groups. Some scholars argue that private schoolenrollment contributes to racial segregation in public schools because White families attempt toenhance the social status of their children by leaving public schools serving communities with higherpercentages of childrenwho areBlack.Asecond group of scholars argue that private school enrollmentis primarily based on nonracial factors. A third, related perspective argues that race is of diminishingimportance in driving behaviors such as school choice. This study explores these perspectives using1990 and 2000 Public UseMicro Data Samples to estimate private school enrollment rates by studentrace and community racial composition. Findings indicate that private school enrollment rates amongAsian, Black, and Hispanic students do not fluctuate much with community racial composition. Bycontrast, private school enrollment rates among White families are strongly and positively correlatedwith the percentage of children in their communities who are Blackeven after holding constanta series of individual and community-level factors that may account for this trend. Moreover, theassociation between race and choice has changed little between 1990 and 2000.
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Authors: Saporito, Salvatore
Periodical (Full): Peabody Journal of Education
Issue: 2
Volume: 84
Pages: 172-190
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Education, Race and Ethnicity
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