From Gothamist/WNYC
Why these NJ schools are so diverse, while many are segregated — affordable housing has been key
The fourth-graders at Claremont Elementary School in Franklin Township, New Jersey already know many of the basic building blocks of a good neighborhood. Days before the end of the school year in June, they were busy designing environmentally friendly communities using protractors and poster-sized dry erase boards.
About this project
Study after study has found that New Jersey — despite its diverse population — has one of the most segregated public school systems in the country. More than a dozen newsrooms covering New Jersey have come together to explain how it came to this, what might be done about it and how segregation affects the student experience.
The series, Segregated, includes reporting from NJ Spotlight News, Gothamist/WNYC and others.
A discussion about neighborhoods feels natural in Franklin Township public schools in Somerset County, one of the most diverse districts in New Jersey, according to a report card issued by the state education department. Housing advocates say the township is a model for the rest of the state because of its embrace of a set of nearly half-century old court rulings mandating affordable housing.
As part of the Segregated collaboration among newsrooms covering New Jersey, Gothamist and WNYC explored the deep connections between housing and public school segregation, and how Franklin Township’s embrace of affordable housing contributes to one of the most diverse districts in the state. Read the full report from Gothamist or listen on WNYC.
Find links to all the stories in the series.
Cover image: Claremont Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Ebony Blissett instructs her class in Franklin Twp. Ed Murrary for Gothamist
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