How Voucher-Funded Private Schools Are Deepening Educational Segregation

Private schools reinforcing racial segregation in southern states are receiving tens of millions in taxpayer dollars thanks to school voucher programs.

According to an investigation by ProPublica, these private schools, referred to as “segregation academies,” serve primarily white students despite the fact that the largest ethnic group in their districts are often non-white students. For example, in North Carolina, ProPublica identified 39 likely segregation academies; of those, 20 schools had student bodies that are at least 85% white.

The 20 schools have collectively received over $20 million in state funding through Opportunity Scholarships in the last three years. These schools, which include Northeast Academy, Lawrence Academy, and Pungo Christian Academy, report enrollments starkly unrepresentative of their communities. For instance, Lawrence Academy, located in a county that is 60% Black, has never reported Black enrollment higher than 3%.

North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship program was initially designed for low-income families, however, legislators expanded eligibility to include students from all income levels and those already attending private schools. Critics have argued the expansion has led to segregating low income students. While tuition vouchers can cover up to $7,468 annually, many private schools charge much higher fees, leaving low-income families—disproportionately Black—unable to afford the gap.

Moreover, private schools are not obligated to admit all applicants or provide essential services like transportation or free meals, further limiting access for marginalized families. This lack of inclusivity, combined with rising voucher funding, exacerbates racial disparities. For instance, Northeast Academy’s enrollment has grown with increasing voucher funds, despite being 99% white in a county that is 40% white.

“If you look at the history of the segregation movement, they wanted vouchers to prop up segregation academies,” Bryan Mann, a University of Kansas professor who studies school segregation, told ProPublica. “And now they’re getting vouchers in some of these areas to prop up these schools.”

The voucher system’s expansion is part of a broader trend across Southern states, where similar programs have gained traction. Critics, including education policy experts, warn that these initiatives perpetuate systemic inequities. Many states fail to collect or disclose demographic data on voucher recipients, making it difficult for scholars to study if these programs are segregating Black students.

Some lawmakers, like North Carolina Rep. Rodney Pierce, are pushing back. A public school teacher and civil rights advocate, Pierce has visited some of these segregation schools and reported people were nice to him, however, he felt anxious.

“You’re in an academy you know was started by people who didn’t want their children to go to school with Black children,” he told ProPublica.