Charter Schools, Gentrification, and the Division or Betterment of Urban Communities

Abstract

Historically, under resourced and poor performing school districts hampered policy efforts to revitalize urban working class neighborhoods. The housing market works in tandem with the education “market,” with schools influencing and being influenced by their surrounding neighborhoods. This study analyzes the possible link between gentrification, or the rehabilitation of working class neighborhoods, and the rise of charter school schools. Charter schools, publically funded but privately operated, are growing exponentially under current local and national school reform policies and provide alternatives to traditional neighborhood schools. Through content analysis of newspaper articles and case studies on two New York City charter schools and their neighborhoods, this study gains perspective on the relationship between charter school creation and the changing socio-economic and cultural demographics of a neighborhood. While the media analysis suggests that the perceived link is not widespread or heavily reported, the case studies indicate that some community members perceive that the charter school is related to the ongoing gentrification of the neighborhood. Those who perceive the link are divided- while many view the charter school as increasing the racial and cultural divide in the gentrified community, others view an emerging charter school as a sign for urban cultural, economic revitalization and increased opportunities for historically underserved communities.