In this episode, we sit down to discuss the past, present and future of educational equity in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) system. At the beginning, we share our own unique experiences growing up attending CMS schools Kindergarten through 12th grade (03:40). After the break, we dive into some of the history of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system and its various attempts at desegregation and integration (18:45). Along the way, we explore the distribution of wealth and social capital in Charlotte by means of “the wedge” and “the crescent” (24:50) and discuss last year’s “Breaking the Link” study connecting poverty and race to graduation rates and students’ college and career readiness (25:50). We also discuss some of the challenges faced by students in high-poverty schools (31:45) and the difference between pursuing “equity” and “equality” when it comes to seeking justice in education (34:25). Finally, we wonder what an equitable school system looks like and go back-and-forth on ways members of the Charlotte community can help achieve that goal (38:05).

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