School Segregation Reduces Life Expectancy in the U.S. Black Population by 9 Years

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Education Policy

Background:

• Despite the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, school segregation for Black Americans persists.
• Education is a critical social determinant of health, with significant health implications.
• School segregation is a root cause of health inequities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the causal link between school segregation and high school graduation.
• To assess the association between high school completion and life expectancy.
• To estimate life expectancy reduction due to school segregation and map its prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized statistical analysis to establish a causal relationship between school segregation and graduation rates.
• Quantified the impact of lacking a high school diploma on life expectancy.
• Analyzed the prevalence of school segregation among Black students across U.S. states.

Main Results:

• Lack of high school completion is linked to a 9-year reduction in life expectancy, comparable to smoking.
• School segregation is most prevalent in the Northeast (81.1%), followed by the South (78.1%), Midwest (68.4%), and West (13.6%).

Conclusions:

• School segregation is a significant factor contributing to reduced life expectancy among Black Americans.
• Implementing remedies to combat school segregation is essential for achieving health equity.