The third and final section of this project is an interactive map that lets users examine the relationship of integration, school funding, and racial demographics in the City of New Orleans. ISP students will have the opportunity to work on the "Schools, Race, & Money" map in 2024, and the map will go live online in summer, 2025.

The money battle

When in 1960 a federal court ordered the integration of New Orleans public schools, segregationist leaders turned their battle about race into a battle about money. The Louisiana legislature took over the Orleans Parish School Board and stopped paying teachers throughout the entire parish. The state's most powerful political boss, Leander Perez, built new segregated schools for White students fleeing from integrated schools. Meanwhile, the White Citizens' Council lobbied for private—but publicly funded—"segregationist academies."  

The demographics of integration

White families had begun to leave New Orleans long before 1960, but this pattern accelerated during the 20 years following the onset of school integration. How did the integration of Orleans Parish schools correspond to demographic changes in the City of New Orleans? How did both factors influence state funding of public schools? The Schools, Race, & Money Map will let users examine the interaction of these three factors over time.