Why NJ schools are segregated

Divided communities have created an imbalance in the quality of education kids receive.

New Jersey boasts some of the nation's best public schools, but it grapples with the troubling reality of being the sixth most segregated state for Black students and seventh most segregated for Latinx students. 

The realities of school segregation in New Jersey, previously covered by Central Desi, are the focus of an Emmy-nominated short film, “The Third Rail,” by educator Antika Singh and filmmaker Jasmine Wang.

Inspired by the historic 2018 Latino Action Network v. State of New Jersey lawsuit, which alleged that New Jersey was violating the constitutional rights of minority children by providing them separate and unequal schools, the film reveals how systems of inequality have shaped educational opportunities across communities in the Garden State. 

Antika Singh and Jasmine Wang pose with team member, Danny Monico, at the 68th Annual New York Emmy Awards. (Photo courtesy of Incurrent Media)

Singh and Wang, both second-generation Asian Americans, created the film as a starting point for removing barriers between communities. In this interview, which has been edited and condensed, Antika Singh explains the film examines public education and access.

What prompted you to create this film? What do you hope viewers will take from it?

Antika: Jasmine and I are both products of New Jersey public schools and Rutgers University. I'm an educator, and after Jasmine became a mother in 2022, she witnessed conversations about “good versus bad schools” that, while never explicitly stated, always fell along racial lines.

We knew we wanted to focus on education, and our interest was further sparked by the 2018 Latino Action Network v. State of New Jersey lawsuit. 

A UCLA study found that nearly half of all Black and Latino students [in New Jersey] attend schools that are more than 90% non-white. As we began following the people already doing this work, we realized most APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) audiences were unaware and, frankly, unconcerned. Many refused to believe segregation remained an issue.

Segregated schools are born from segregated communities.

Antika Singh, educator and consultant

This motivated us to document the desegregation work, starting with the lawsuit and the individuals involved, all while examining our own histories.

People are often surprised to hear that school segregation exists in New Jersey. They think of it as an issue in the South, pre-Civil Rights Movement. How did our schools become segregated?

Antika: Segregated schools are born from segregated communities. We can trace this to the long history of residential segregation throughout the US. Redlining, for example, was a federal policy that denied loans to Black families while approving them for white families, systematically directing investment away from Black neighborhoods. These policies created neighborhoods that have suffered decades of disinvestment and massive wealth disparities that persist today.

Then you add on New Jersey's unique structure and “tradition” of home rule, local control that grants towns an unusual amount of autonomy in local matters. The state has historically deferred to towns on education and zoning. We have almost 600 school districts (that’s excluding charter schools) in the fourth smallest state in the U.S.! Through home rule, we have these little fiefdoms that allow people with resources (and the data shows this mostly means white and Asian families) to dictate policy in ways that maintain exclusivity.

For people who don't see why this matters, or who say it's simply an outcome of how and where we choose to live, can you explain why desegregation is important? 

Antika: We hear this framing that it's “just a choice where we choose to live,” which is frustrating. I'd pose these questions back: Is quality public education a consumer good only available to those who can afford certain zip codes? Is it acceptable to exclude children based on socioeconomic status?

There's this problematic narrative of, “Well, if they just worked harder like we did,” which ignores the systems and structures that created today's segregation. It creates false equivalency and allows us to accept inequality and continue this cycle because it doesn't affect “me and my zip code.”

Let's be clear about what we mean by integration. It's about race, but it's also about class. It's not about busing Black and brown kids into predominantly white and Asian schools. True integration means creating equitable opportunities for all students. It's not just about having diverse bodies in the same building, but ensuring the curriculum, policies, and practices within schools serve all students equitably.

States like Maryland and Virginia have county/regional schools, and it is entirely possible to do the same in New Jersey; however, home rule remains a barrier.

Antika Singh

New Jersey is diverse and densely populated, with demographics continuing to shift toward greater diversity. What better place for children to learn and interact with people different from them? You develop fears and misconceptions about others in isolated, segregated environments. 

What are some tangible policy changes that can help us desegregate our schools? 

Antika: The lawsuit recommends three policies: magnet schools, interdistrict school choice, and increased vocational tech schools. Another option that has been discussed, and that we personally believe in, is consolidation and regionalization. 

States like Maryland and Virginia have county/regional schools, and it is entirely possible to do the same in New Jersey; however, home rule remains a barrier.

The lawsuit has been in the courts for seven years now, and it seems the current administration is just trying to kick this to the next governor. Meanwhile, seven years of children continue to be denied equal educational opportunities in segregated schools.

And in conjunction, supporting and advocating for affordable housing is crucial—it's the most powerful driver of segregation, especially when schools are assigned based on municipal lines. 

Through our work, we've seen many towns try to avoid required affordable housing mandates, with some even forming coalitions to sue the state. It's been especially disappointing to see South Asians (elected officials and residents) be part of the opposition when affordable housing benefits everyone, including APIDA families.

What about individuals? Is there anything we can do to address the issue? 

Antika: It starts with education and honest dialogue. We need to confront histories, understand systems, and turn the lens inward to reflect on our privileges despite our struggles. This means confronting how, as a community, we have both benefited from and been marginalized by systems of power, which requires acknowledging uncomfortable realities. But through that work, I believe we can build the community buy-in needed to move forward.

Singh and Wang conduct a training on educational equity in North Brunswick.
(Photo courtesy of Incurrent Media)

Ambreen Ali is the founding editor of Central Desi. Kani Ilangovan contributed to this article.

Upcoming events this week (Oct 22 - 28)

October 23 - Your Voice Matters: Join a Legacy of Youth Activism
6 PM - 7:30 PM
The Montclair HUB
60 South Fullerton, Montclair, NJ
Middle and high school students are invited to explore the power of activism through this hands-on workshop. Learn how youth activism shaped laws and communities, explore the history of Indian Youth Against Racism in 1980s Jersey City, and design your own protest poster. Food and art supplies will be provided.
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October 24 - Queer Diwali Ball 🪩
6 PM
3 Dollar Bill
260 Meserole Street Brooklyn, NY
A benefit for Desi Rainbow featuring dazzling performers and community vendors.
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October 24 - Diwaliween Bollywood Party 🎃
Doors open 10 PM
The Ainsworth
310 Sinatra Dr, Hoboken, NJ
A combination of the Festival of Lights and Halloween. Expect electrifying Bollywood beats, spooky-festive vibes, and a night where tradition meets thrill!
Tickets available here.

October 25 - Sufi and Ghazal Night with Saima Kashif
7 PM
The Green Lounge
314 Paramus Rd, Paramus, NJ
A fusion of Hindi, Punjabi, English, and Urdu songs will be performed during this live concert. Food is included.
More information here.

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