"It's a Chance, Not a Choice": Black Families, School Choice, and Gentrification in Washington, D.C.

This article examines how Black parents in Washington, D.C., a rapidly gentrifying city with an expansive school choice system, navigate school selection amid shifting racial and spatial dynamics. Drawing on a qualitative meta-analysis of interviews with 34 Black parents, the study finds that these parents weigh multiple factors—including academic rigor, social-emotional safety, racial affirmation, and neighborhood perceptions—when constructing their school choice sets. Despite the availability of numerous options, parents often face racialized compromises and constraints shaped by gentrification, leading many to view school choice as a "chance, not a choice" for accessing high-quality education. The findings highlight the importance of place-based perceptions and ongoing negotiation in Black parents' schooling decisions, challenging rational choice models that prioritize academic metrics alone.