School segregation continues to be a significant issue in the Baltimore region, according to a report from Johns Hopkins University. In Baltimore City, public schools are predominantly attended by Black students, with about 75% of the student population being Black. This pattern reflects the city's overall demographics, where Black residents make up the majority. However, the report notes that while Baltimore City Public Schools are segregated, they perform better than many suburban school districts in reducing segregation. This is partly because the city's student population is more homogenous, whereas suburban areas have more diverse populations but also face challenges in integrating students across racial and economic lines. The study, funded by the Abell Foundation, points out that suburban school districts could improve integration by adjusting attendance boundaries and offering more public school choice options. However, the most significant barriers—such as residential zoning laws and public transportation limitations—are not within the control of local school officials. These issues require action from state and county governments. The report emphasizes that the root of school segregation in the region lies in housing segregation. To truly reduce segregation, policies related to housing and transportation must work together to create more racially and economically integrated communities. Despite the segregation in Baltimore City Public Schools, the report clarifies that the level of segregation in the schools is not more extreme than the segregation seen in the neighborhoods themselves. In fact, the city’s schools are among the least segregated in the region when considering the racial composition of school-aged children within each district. This is because the city's overall racial segregation is so pronounced that the schools do not significantly amplify it. To address the issue, the report proposes several policy solutions. These include implementing inclusive residential zoning to mix affordable housing with higher-income neighborhoods, a strategy that has worked in Montgomery County. Optimizing bus routes to better connect students to schools outside their neighborhoods and expanding housing voucher programs that allow residents to move to higher-income areas are also recommended. Additionally, promoting mixed-income housing development in Baltimore City could foster greater racial and economic diversity. Improved transportation systems may help create more integrated housing patterns, leading to more integrated schools. However, the report also notes that long and unreliable commutes to school can hinder the effectiveness of school choice policies in breaking the link between housing and school segregation.