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Social and spatial inequalities of educational opportunity: A portrait of schools serving high- and low-income neighbourhoods in US metropolitan areas

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  • Ann Owens

    (University of Southern California, USA)

  • Jennifer Candipan

    (University of Southern California, USA)

Abstract

Neighbourhoods and schools are both important contexts for children’s wellbeing. While often posited, little evidence documents inequalities in schools serving high- and low-income neighbourhoods. In this article, we use geospatial techniques to combine five administrative data sets to examine the characteristics of local public schools serving high- and low-income neighbourhoods in US metropolitan areas in 2013–2014. We find that high-income neighbourhoods are served by schools with greater social, financial, and instructional resources and greater student achievement than schools serving low-income neighbourhoods. Moreover, when metropolitan neighbourhoods are highly segregated by income, these inequalities are exacerbated. Our results demonstrate the link between neighbourhood and school disadvantage, with implications for policymakers concerned about social mobility and inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Ann Owens & Jennifer Candipan, 2019. "Social and spatial inequalities of educational opportunity: A portrait of schools serving high- and low-income neighbourhoods in US metropolitan areas," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(15), pages 3178-3197, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:56:y:2019:i:15:p:3178-3197
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098018815049
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    2. Willem Boterman & Sako Musterd & Carolina Pacchi & Costanzo Ranci, 2019. "School segregation in contemporary cities: Socio-spatial dynamics, institutional context and urban outcomes," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(15), pages 3055-3073, November.
    3. Tiit Tammaru & David Knapp & Siiri Silm & Maarten van Ham & Frank Witlox, 2021. "Spatial Underpinnings of Social Inequalities: A Vicious Circles of Segregation Approach," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 65-76.
    4. Sahar Khaleel & Bernadette Hanlon, 2023. "The rise of single-family rentals and the relationship to opportunity neighbourhoods for low-income families with children," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(13), pages 2706-2724, October.
    5. Scott William Hegerty, 2023. "Defining ‘metropolitan’ poverty: Isolation gradients in major US urban areas," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(10), pages 1796-1814, August.
    6. Chan, Eric W. & Fan, Yulian, 2023. "Housing discrimination in the low-income context: Evidence from a correspondence experiment," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(PA).
    7. DiSalvo, Richard W. & Yu, Jia H., 2023. "Housing Affordability and School Quality in the United States," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    8. Jaap Nieuwenhuis & Jiayi Xu, 2021. "Residential Segregation and Unequal Access to Schools," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 142-153.
    9. Lori Taylor & Shawna Grosskopf & Kathy Hayes & Laura Razzolini, 2023. "The role of poverty measurements in achieving educational equity through school finance reform," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 109-127, October.
    10. Eva Andersson & Heleen Janssen & Maarten van Ham & Bo Malmberg, 2023. "Contextual poverty and obtained educational level and income in Sweden and the Netherlands: A multi-scale and longitudinal study," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(5), pages 885-903, April.

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