About the Entry

A team of journalists at the Hartford Courant in Connecticut take a close look at educational inequities in their city and the troubling legacy of a landmark court case that was intended to end segregation by creating a system of voluntary magnet schools.

• Left behind: 20 years after Sheff v. O’Neill, students struggle in Hartford’s segregated neighborhood schools
• Beyond reach: Even as magnet school seats remain empty, racial quotas keep many black, Latino students out
• Imperfect choices: With integrated schools out of reach, segregated options gain favor
• Acclaimed Capital Prep Magnet School bypassed normal lottery process for athletes, other students
• Auditors find more than 100 Capital Prep students admitted outside normal lottery process
• Capital Prep met state integration rule by picking white students outside lottery
• As Sheff v. O’Neill case persists, frustrations grow over minority students left out of magnet schools

Entry Credit

• Vanessa de la Torre, Staff Writer, The Hartford Courant
• Matthew Kauffman, Staff Writer, The Hartford Courant
• Kathleen Megan, Staff Writer, The Hartford Courant
• Patrick Raycraft, Staff Photographer, The Hartford Courant

Comments from the Judges

“This series exemplifies the very best education reporting. The stories of individual students, parents and educators personalize the effects of inequality.”

“Stunning. This story, without question, is difficult for a local outlet to do because they undoubtedly threaten powerful interests. The access to classrooms and people is rare and shows the level of trust the reporters developed with their sources.”

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