Reliable conservative estimates hold that over $1.2 billion has been spent on the now 30-year old desegregation lawsuit. Here’s what 30 years of failed local, state and federal leadership from all three branches of government have to show for it:

In the 1988-89 school year, the year of the Orwellian-named “settlement,” the Little Rock School District had 26,543 students, 63% black and 37% white. In the 2011-12 school year, the district had 25,481 students, 67% black, 20% white and 13% other.

In the 1988-89 school year, the North Little Rock School District had 9,494 students, 43% black and 57% white. In the 2011-12 school year, the district had 9,083 students, 59% black, 32% white, and 9% other.

In the 1988-89 school year, the Pulaski County Special School District had 21,871 students, 25% black and 75% white. In the 2011-12 school year, the district had 17,637 students, 43% black, 48% white, and 9% other.

Over the past 24 years, the traditional public school enrollment in the entire county has dropped 9% or 5,707 students. By contrast, between the 1990 and 2010 censuses, the county’s population grew by 9% or 33,094 residents. That means the county’s traditional public school enrollment dropped an effective 18% over 20 years.

Since Little Rock’s population grew by 10% (17,797 residents) over 20 years, its traditional public school enrollment dropped an effective 14%.

Since North Little Rock’s population grew by 1% over 20 years, its traditional public school enrollment dropped an effective 5%.

In 1983-84, the year after the Little Rock School District initiated the federal lawsuit against the North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special School Districts, the three public districts’ student enrollment demographics were as follows:

• Little Rock (19,052 students; 70% black, 30% white)
• North Little Rock (9,051 students; 36% black, 64% white)
• Pulaski County Special School District (27,839; 22% black, 78% white)

$1.2 billion later, Little Rock’s goals to desegregate by punishing its neighboring districts and the state have been an abject failure, as its white enrollment has dropped from 30% to 20%. While the district is now 67% black, 20% white and 13% other, the City of Little Rock is 42% black, 47% white, and 11% other.

Thirty years ago, the percentage difference between black and white students in the Little Rock School District was 40 points. In 2010, it was 47.

Thirty years ago, the percentage difference between black and white students in the North Little Rock School District was 28 points white over black. In 2010, it was 27 points black over white.

Thirty years ago, the percentage difference between black and white students in the Pulaski County Special School District was 56 points. In 2010, it was 5.

Before Rep. Walker et al. claim a one for three victory with Pulaski County, consider that the Pulaski County Special School District has lost 37% (10,202 students) over the past 30 years. Through annexation losses to other districts, administrative mismanagement, financial distress, and now state takeover, Pulaski County may be more diverse, but to what end. Certainly not excellence.

Imagine if $1.2 billion had been invested in excellence. Instead of a sticks to force, carrots to keep and attract. Where were/are our intervenors for that?

Thirty years ago, the Little Rock School District sued to consolidate all three districts. In their latest filings, they’ve asked the court to preclude consolidation as a remedy, even though the district is now more segregated than when the lawsuit was originally filed. Either they forgot or think we have.

While traditional public schools across the country have been forced by adults to attempt to shoulder a disproportionate burden of correcting societal ills, their respective leaders have forgotten what made and makes desegregation both worthy and desirable. Equal access to excellence.

When our institutions cease to be excellent, they simply become traps for our most vulnerable, denying them the very opportunity for which our forebears fought and died.

While the battle has shifted from the Jim Crow state to those current elected, appointed and hired protectionists of means over ends, it is no less a fight and emminently as worthy.