The Voluntary Interdistrict Desegregation Program in St. Louis and the Geography of Opportunity

Abstract

The voluntary interdistrict desegregation program began in St. Louis in 1983 and provided Black students from urban communities with free transportation to one of 15 participating suburban school districts.  The geography of opportunity posits that location can impact the opportunities available.  This study conducts a descriptive statistical analysis of the fiscal resources in St. Louis as compared to those in the participating suburban districts, as well as among the suburban districts themselves.  Results indicate that there are significant variations in resources among the suburban districts, indicating the need for additional research on race, place, and education spending.