A new study led by scholars at Tufts University has uncovered a link between increases in school segregation and higher levels of racial health disparities for Black Americans compared to their White neighbors. While many previous studies have examined the association between segregation and health, the new Tufts study examines how changes in residential and school segregation over time affect health outcomes.
The authors examined data regarding residential segregation, school segregation, and overall health of citizens in over 1,000 counties across the country from 1991 to 2020. During this time period, the authors found residential segregation remained relatively unchanged. However, school segregation sharply increased throughout the 1990s, and remained high from 2000 to 2020.
Counties with particularly high levels of school segregation experienced significant health disparities in life expectancy, early mortality, homicides, and teen births among Black Americans. Furthermore, counties with high levels of both residential and school segregation, and counties whose school segregation has steadily increased over the past 30 years experienced the worst health outcomes for Black Americans compared to White Americans.
The authors analysis revealed school segregation was an independent predictor of racial health disparities. This suggests that decreasing school segregation could improve health outcomes for Black Americans, even if they live in counties with higher residential segregation.
