Integrated Neighborhoods, Polarized Schools

Do more diverse neighborhoods create more equal schools? Berlin suggests otherwise. Following the city through a decade of rapid urban change, Robert Vief reveals how primary schools can become more polarized even as residential segregation declines. Drawing on a unique combination of school, neighborhood, and housing-market data, he shows how gentrification and unaffordable housing reshape families’ options and strategies – in a context where school choice is formally the exception. Offering fresh perspectives on the links between cities, education, and the reproduction of inequality, this study provides timely insights for debates on social justice and urban policy.