Mapping segregation in Chicagoland schools
WBEZ plotted out public schools in the metro region, 20 years ago and today. The number of very heavily white schools (90 percent or more white) has declined sharply in that time. And the number of “integrated” schools, where no race holds a majority, has increased.
But the number of extremely segregated (90 percent or more) black and extremely segregated Hispanic schools has also increased in both the city and the suburbs. Over 20 percent of all Chicagoland schools are extremely racially isolated black or Hispanic schools.
Switch to 1990 map| White 90-100% |
White 70-89% |
White 50-69% |
Black 90-100% |
Black 70-89% |
Black 50-69% |
Hispanic 90-100% |
Hispanic 70-89% |
Hispanic 50-69% |
Asian 90-100% |
Asian 70-89% |
Asian 50-69% |
No majority |
Includes K-12 public schools in Chicago, suburban Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. WBEZ removed schools with fewer than 15 students (such as regional alternative schools or special education programs). Data source: U.S. Department of Education. Locations are automatically assigned through geocoding, and therefore may contain inaccuracies.