School Segregation Data for U.S. Metro Areas

 

This data is part of a series on segregation in Illinois that resulted from a six-month Governing investigation.

 

Elevated levels of school segregation between blacks and whites remain prevalent throughout many areas of the country.

A number of factors might explain varying degrees to which schools are segregated. School segregation largely reflects where people live -- particularly residential segregation -- and local demographics. How school district boundary lines are drawn and how schools are funded also often play a role.

To assess school segregation between black and white students, Governing compiled the latest enrollment data reported by the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. For our primary measure of segregation, we calculated what's known as the index of dissimilarity, a commonly used measure by sociologists that reflects the extent to which the ratio of black-to-white students in each school matches that same ratio for an entire area.

Examining segregation for school districts or cities usually does not capture segregation taking place across different districts or larger geographies. So we calculated dissimilarity indices for entire metro areas, using the federal government's 2018 geographic definitions. (See the full report methodology.)

The median black-white dissimilarity index for 242 metro areas reviewed was 0.545 when those with small enrollments of either less than 2,000 black students or 2,000 white students were excluded.

The following table shows calculated dissimilarity indices, ranging from 0 (no segregation) to 1 (complete segregation.)

Metro Area	Dissimilarity Index	Black Enrollment	White Enrollment
Peoria, IL	0.821	8,955	47,965
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	0.801	53,988	123,699
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	0.799	19,733	30,727
Cleveland-Elyria, OH	0.791	77,359	165,693
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	0.778	296,593	603,612
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	0.776	507,410	954,262
Syracuse, NY	0.758	13,636	73,816
Erie, PA	0.745	5,264	29,054
Albany, GA	0.736	17,282	7,625
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	0.735	15,400	84,911
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	0.732	180,286	386,800
Pine Bluff, AR	0.732	8,749	5,100
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	0.727	28,767	101,103
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	0.726	52,251	228,947
Flint, MI	0.725	17,098	42,610
Springfield, MA	0.718	7,666	56,837
Muskegon, MI	0.715	5,061	18,959
Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	0.713	15,736	113,436
St. Louis, MO-IL	0.712	107,760	260,860
Niles, MI	0.708	4,955	15,009
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	0.706	11,010	55,540
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	0.705	64,844	211,394
Saginaw, MI	0.705	7,776	16,091
Pittsburgh, PA	0.704	38,779	238,884
Jackson, MS	0.704	61,060	29,752
Rochester, NY	0.701	27,931	100,832
St. Cloud, MN	0.700	3,151	24,048
Danville, IL	0.694	2,504	8,867
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	0.690	18,426	79,925
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	0.690	30,433	227,456
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	0.687	62,314	413,414
Monroe, LA	0.686	18,422	15,847
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	0.685	124,299	348,942
Utica-Rome, NY	0.683	3,514	34,652
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	0.682	130,744	63,684
New Haven-Milford, CT	0.679	21,919	61,297
Montgomery, AL	0.676	31,512	19,194
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	0.673	225,104	435,504
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	0.671	60,394	88,110
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	0.669	13,234	19,313
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	0.668	49,346	155,043
Chattanooga, TN-GA	0.667	14,299	51,746
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	0.665	8,952	57,650
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	0.665	2,114	11,815
Baton Rouge, LA	0.664	64,124	56,285
Jackson, MI	0.664	2,483	18,301
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	0.655	149,266	172,885
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	0.651	257,319	325,510
Toledo, OH	0.651	17,777	68,560
Gadsden, AL	0.651	2,974	11,221
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	0.650	24,581	101,877
Dayton-Kettering, OH	0.649	23,643	77,141
Kankakee, IL	0.640	3,951	10,627
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	0.640	16,951	100,169
Waco, TX	0.639	8,766	18,438
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	0.638	388,386	359,805
Columbus, OH	0.638	67,515	212,290
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	0.637	3,178	18,545
Wichita, KS	0.636	10,630	65,591
Mobile, AL	0.635	30,490	29,270
Springfield, IL	0.634	6,393	22,510
Springfield, OH	0.634	2,169	15,884
Athens-Clarke County, GA	0.634	7,949	14,095
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	0.629	81,777	59,321
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	0.625	232,110	321,321
Akron, OH	0.624	16,475	67,785
Worcester, MA-CT	0.624	7,249	98,195
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	0.623	6,620	22,010
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	0.621	11,573	54,887
Jonesboro, AR	0.620	4,866	15,447
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	0.619	238,125	148,258
Rockford, IL	0.619	9,477	28,334
Decatur, AL	0.618	3,555	16,497
Portland-South Portland, ME	0.616	2,912	61,046
Kansas City, MO-KS	0.614	55,554	216,215
Macon-Bibb County, GA	0.612	21,329	12,658
Tallahassee, FL	0.611	21,147	20,000
Champaign-Urbana, IL	0.610	5,878	16,819
Decatur, IL	0.610	4,319	9,891
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	0.610	32,885	151,388
Canton-Massillon, OH	0.608	6,018	47,866
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	0.608	38,487	62,905
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	0.605	76,137	358,738
Binghamton, NY	0.604	2,565	27,345
Lake Charles, LA	0.604	12,139	20,568
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	0.603	8,729	27,175
Tuscaloosa, AL	0.601	17,065	15,601
Winston-Salem, NC	0.600	20,020	54,603
Roanoke, VA	0.594	8,291	30,355
Tulsa, OK	0.594	17,977	80,353
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	0.592	237,171	444,490
Savannah, GA	0.592	25,109	25,707
Charleston, WV	0.590	3,166	37,165
Topeka, KS	0.590	3,299	25,155
Naples-Marco Island, FL	0.588	5,334	16,386
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	0.587	16,539	143,103
Lubbock, TX	0.585	4,906	18,670
Richmond, VA	0.585	67,842	89,915
Lima, OH	0.585	2,460	10,901
Rome, GA	0.580	2,874	9,637
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	0.579	8,481	81,922
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	0.578	2,104	12,862
Oklahoma City, OK	0.577	30,809	117,053
Fort Smith, AR-OK	0.573	2,276	26,006
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	0.572	34,995	27,554
Jackson, TN	0.571	10,374	15,149
Fresno, CA	0.568	10,283	35,631
Knoxville, TN	0.567	10,267	93,169
Greensboro-High Point, NC	0.567	35,747	51,089
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	0.566	56,444	169,980
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	0.565	24,116	151,743
Jacksonville, FL	0.564	66,167	113,799
Battle Creek, MI	0.564	3,004	13,735
Racine, WI	0.562	5,527	16,255
Bakersfield, CA	0.558	9,703	41,290
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	0.554	111,228	203,729
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	0.552	15,681	41,064
Janesville-Beloit, WI	0.552	2,266	19,605
Amarillo, TX	0.545	3,719	23,751
Columbia, SC	0.545	55,208	63,781
Norwich-New London, CT	0.545	2,879	25,099
Green Bay, WI	0.544	2,390	37,775
Ann Arbor, MI	0.544	8,068	28,460
Fort Wayne, IN	0.544	9,252	36,725
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	0.543	39,285	272,542
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	0.542	25,673	123,657
Valdosta, GA	0.539	10,121	10,304
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	0.536	27,570	34,201
Columbus, GA-AL	0.536	26,431	16,803
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	0.536	40,500	111,263
Madison, WI	0.534	7,465	68,324
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	0.533	2,788	21,224
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	0.533	3,488	49,887
Carbondale-Marion, IL	0.532	2,024	15,464
Rochester, MN	0.532	2,738	25,902
Alexandria, LA	0.532	10,694	14,904
Jefferson City, MO	0.530	2,011	16,513
Stockton, CA	0.529	11,687	28,566
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	0.527	70,836	192,749
Vallejo, CA	0.525	9,787	17,311
Hattiesburg, MS	0.523	10,602	14,449
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY	0.523	12,554	58,764
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	0.522	28,187	96,592
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	0.521	12,065	210,028
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	0.521	8,669	18,611
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	0.519	9,264	73,950
Evansville, IN-KY	0.519	4,160	34,669
Lancaster, PA	0.518	3,770	45,876
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY	0.515	2,630	18,472
Iowa City, IA	0.514	2,582	14,949
Bowling Green, KY	0.511	2,038	19,902
Dothan, AL	0.508	7,407	12,835
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	0.508	3,330	16,273
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	0.507	13,351	38,928
Anchorage, AK	0.504	3,110	34,569
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	0.502	4,137	54,066
Gainesville, GA	0.502	2,749	15,018
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	0.501	7,556	40,246
Springfield, MO	0.498	2,414	58,653
Asheville, NC	0.498	3,406	41,057
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	0.497	50,303	320,162
Texarkana, TX-AR	0.496	8,430	14,692
Burlington, NC	0.495	5,260	12,127
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	0.494	104,690	115,364
York-Hanover, PA	0.494	5,513	47,629
Sioux Falls, SD	0.494	3,001	32,244
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	0.491	75,916	132,896
Goldsboro, NC	0.485	6,951	7,735
Killeen-Temple, TX	0.482	19,888	31,768
Abilene, TX	0.481	2,387	15,167
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	0.479	62,525	170,174
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	0.477	43,753	40,249
Tyler, TX	0.476	7,486	14,235
California-Lexington Park, MD	0.476	3,256	11,764
Reading, PA	0.475	3,498	38,637
Wichita Falls, TX	0.473	2,389	13,864
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC	0.471	8,250	10,135
Wilmington, NC	0.471	7,030	22,852
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	0.470	2,005	20,263
Anniston-Oxford, AL	0.464	4,844	11,695
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	0.462	10,364	50,549
Salt Lake City, UT	0.462	5,396	150,622
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	0.461	5,573	58,295
Houma-Thibodaux, LA	0.460	7,986	18,602
Lincoln, NE	0.460	2,601	34,066
Panama City, FL	0.460	4,201	19,061
Corpus Christi, TX	0.458	2,358	16,323
Lexington-Fayette, KY	0.456	10,926	46,507
Cedar Rapids, IA	0.453	3,463	35,114
Tucson, AZ	0.451	5,901	47,690
Longview, TX	0.450	10,502	27,147
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	0.448	38,005	56,146
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	0.448	19,562	39,443
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	0.447	46,550	96,130
Lynchburg, VA	0.438	7,658	21,504
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	0.437	3,705	37,969
Lafayette, LA	0.430	27,943	39,027
Columbia, MO	0.430	3,947	19,486
Spartanburg, SC	0.430	11,586	29,112
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	0.425	4,525	32,438
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	0.424	10,671	45,005
Huntsville, AL	0.424	16,780	37,972
Colorado Springs, CO	0.417	8,098	72,809
Gainesville, FL	0.416	11,584	19,606
Bloomington, IL	0.411	2,957	17,743
Rocky Mount, NC	0.399	13,390	7,799
Hammond, LA	0.396	9,350	8,959
Fayetteville, NC	0.396	31,860	28,316
Brunswick, GA	0.394	5,422	10,472
Greenville-Anderson, SC	0.393	28,645	84,920
Raleigh-Cary, NC	0.386	47,600	106,355
Port St. Lucie, FL	0.385	13,623	26,206
Lawton, OK	0.384	4,250	10,423
Charlottesville, VA	0.377	4,179	17,338
College Station-Bryan, TX	0.370	6,199	13,672
Jacksonville, NC	0.369	5,106	15,041
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	0.367	4,039	23,609
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	0.364	2,483	52,404
Modesto, CA	0.363	3,013	30,026
Salisbury, MD-DE	0.362	13,219	27,485
Fargo, ND-MN	0.356	2,714	26,657
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ	0.356	6,186	8,462
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	0.354	4,316	27,656
Urban Honolulu, HI	0.354	3,211	14,780
Albuquerque, NM	0.351	3,105	32,785
Clarksville, TN-KY	0.347	10,639	26,457
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	0.341	10,410	36,448
Warner Robins, GA	0.335	12,443	14,320
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	0.334	11,830	45,284
Greenville, NC	0.327	11,809	8,633
Auburn-Opelika, AL	0.317	7,195	13,501
Ocala, FL	0.300	8,612	22,237
Sumter, SC	0.299	13,619	7,144
Dover, DE	0.296	9,261	14,727
El Paso, TX	0.291	4,114	10,594
Hinesville, GA	0.291	6,047	4,344
East Stroudsburg, PA	0.272	4,552	12,982
Florence, SC	0.264	17,829	13,430
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	0.262	21,018	42,615
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL	0.254	3,045	10,003
New Bern, NC	0.245	4,946	9,112
Sebring-Avon Park, FL	0.234	2,115	5,429

SOURCE: Governing analysis of enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-2016 Common Core of Data

Download school segregation data

 

About the data

Metro areas with black or white student enrollment under 2,000 were excluded from our analysis. Our results strictly reflect segregation between non-Hispanic whites and blacks and are not intended to represent other races or ethnicities. School enrollment data considers only public, not private, schools. Geographic definitions for metro areas are based on the most recent revised deliniations issued in September 2018 by the federal Office of Management and Budget. (Read complete methodology.)