Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Date of Award

Summer 2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

<--Please Select Department-->

College

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

First Advisor

Blackhawk Hancock

Second Advisor

Karen Lee

Abstract

Neighborhood change is a common feature in urban life; however, gentrification is a distinct form of urban transformation characterized by rising property values, reinvestment, and shifts in neighborhood socioeconomic makeup. This literature review investigates the mechanisms through which gentrification reshapes public education and argues that gentrification has a direct impact on public schools, as these institutions reflect the socioeconomic communities around them. As neighborhoods gentrify and class demographics shift, education systems struggle to meet the demands of changing student populations, leading to unequal educational experiences. Specifically, this literature review demonstrates how gentrification reshapes public education through changes in school enrollment, school choice, educational policy, and access to resources. It examines how mechanisms such as displacement, privatization, and shifts in school choice patterns reshape public education. By connecting these mechanisms, this review highlights the need to understand education as a right for all students, not a privilege dictated by neighborhood transformation.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

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