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More than 70 years after Brown v. Board of Education ended legal school segregation, racial disparities in education persist.
A recent study found that school districts serving fewer Black and Hispanic students receive about $900 to $1,000 more per student on average, despite decades of funding reforms. Researchers say these funding gaps can affect educational outcomes and future economic opportunities.
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To identify the states with the greatest racial equality in education, WalletHub compared all 50 states using measures such as educational attainment, test scores and graduation rates among white and Black residents.
What they're saying:
"Promoting racial equality in education can have a significant impact on promoting equality in the overall economy. It is essential to ensure that all school districts receive sufficient funding, the latest technology, and equal opportunities for tutoring and extracurricular activities, regardless of their racial composition. This will help bridge the racial gaps in test scores and graduation rates, which will promote equal opportunities for higher education and employment in the future," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
Methodology:
To identify the states with the greatest racial equality in education, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states across six metrics measuring gaps between white and Black residents. Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale, with higher scores indicating greater equality based on the most recent available data.
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States where Black residents matched or outperformed white residents on a given metric received the maximum score. WalletHub then calculated a weighted average across all metrics to produce an overall score and ranking for each state.
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White House Education Secretary on future of education
FROM THE ARCHIVES: White House Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, joined the White House Press briefing to discuss the future of education. McMahon said, "These interagency agreements to cut our own bureaucratic bloat are a key step in our efforts to shift educational authority from Washington, D.C., to your state education agency, your local superintendent, your local school board — entities that are accountable to YOU."
State education systems with the most racial equality
Dig deeper:
How US is addressing racial equality
Why you should care:
The U.S. government has opened investigations or joined litigation over a wide range of efforts to address racial inequality. The Justice Department is investigating programs to increase the number of teachers of color in Rhode Island and Iowa. And grants to districts to train teachers or recruit school mental health workers have been discontinued for mentions of diversity in recruitment.
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In a statement, the Education Department said programs receiving federal funding must follow the law, which prohibits discrimination based on race.
"Serving student needs and following the law are not irreconcilable mandates. Advocates and educators have no reason to stress if they abide by the law," said Amelia Joy, a department spokesperson.
The Trump administration investigated Chicago Public Schools and withheld more than $20 million when the district refused to end its Black Student Success Program, which aims to increase access to advanced coursework for Black students and reduce overly harsh discipline.
A similar effort to close racial achievement gaps in Los Angeles is under the same pressure.
Los Angeles Unified School District created the Black Student Achievement Plan after an outpouring of student activism following the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It supports schools with extra teachers, counselors and curriculum in Black history.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes primarily from a WalletHub study comparing racial equality in education across all 50 states. This story was reported from Los Angeles.