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Abstract
This study examines how the geographic distribution of selective admissions schools (SAS) in Richmond, Virginia, affects student enrollment patterns and access to specialized education. It aims to (1) identify whether spatial distribution and transportation availability create barriers to accessing SAS and (2) evaluate possible solutions for improving access to specialty education. SAS in Richmond are secondary schools with specialized and rigorous academic programs, requiring a selective process for admissions. Existing research has explored the equity implications of the admissions processes of these types of schools, but limited research addresses access from a geographic perspective, particularly for Richmond Public Schools (RPS), a diverse urban school district. The geographic aspect is especially important since transportation access and distance fundamentally shape education access in a choice-based setting. This research employed a geospatial analysis approach, mapping SAS locations across Richmond’s census tracts and generating drive-time maps for each school. These maps were evaluated alongside Richmond's public transportation system to assess how proximity and mobility influence student access. Overall, I found that in Richmond, all SAS are concentrated in the northern part of the city and require the longest travel times to access. I evaluated possible solutions to improve access to specialty education and determined that Passion4Learning, RPS’ high school redesign plan, offers the most promising solution to geographic access and may increase access to specialty education by 60%.
Publication Date
2025
Subject Major(s)
Urban & Regional Studies
Keywords
Geographic Access to Education, School Choice, Transportation Equity, Spatial Inequality, Specialty Schools, Magnet Schools, Selective Admissions Schools, Education Access
Disciplines
Education | Education Policy | Transportation | Urban Studies and Planning
Current Academic Year
Senior
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Jenna Lenhardt
Rights
© The Author(s)
Included in
Education Commons, Education Policy Commons, Transportation Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons