A Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ investigation found school officials failed to protect these welcoming schools and the $155 million invested in them over time.
Black residents often move because of worries about crime and a desire for reputable schools, but leaving Black city neighborhoods that are starved for investment is often more of a necessity than a choice
Experts in Chicago cite a number of reasons for the decline, from the downfall of the steel industry and blue collar jobs to the dismantling of public housing in the 2000s.
Three decades of census data shows Black residents across the U.S. are leaving cities to escape crime and take advantage of better schools and more affordable housing. In Chicago, the trend is particularly stark.