School choice proponents say it offers families more options – but those don’t always extend to immigrant students

School choice policies allow families to choose alternatives to their neighborhood public schools, often using government funds to pay for private school tuition or other educational expenses. However, the benefits of these options may not extend to immigrant students, who may struggle to succeed academically in often less-than-ideal educational environments.

In Charleston, South Carolina, the immigrant population has grown rapidly over the past several decades, with a significant increase in the foreign-born population since 1980. Approximately 7.2% of the residents in Charleston County are foreign-born. The rise of charter and magnet schools in the city can heavily influence immigrant students' experiences in Charleston schools.

Charter schools, which have expanded across Charleston since 1996, have been shown to increase inequality and racial and socioeconomic disparities within school systems. Furthermore, the new voucher plan introduced in South Carolina in 2025, allowing many residents to use educational scholarship funds for private schools or home-schooling expenses, is likely to exacerbate these issues.

Magnet schools, another type of school affected by school choice policies, are free, public schools that are often specialized in their scope and admit students from a range of neighborhoods. However, magnet schools tend to attract students from wealthier homes and draw particularly white populations. Admission to magnet schools is often based on test scores, which can make it more difficult for low-income students, including some immigrant students, to qualify for these schools.

This disparity is particularly evident when comparing North Charleston High School, a traditional public high school with higher poverty rates and lower test scores, to nearby Academic Magnet High School, Charleston County's top public high school. North Charleston High School enrolls a majority of Black or Hispanic students, while Academic Magnet High School attracts a predominantly white student body.

The results of our forthcoming study examining the academic performance and demographics of three Charleston area schools suggest that school choice policies often leave immigrant students behind, as they face challenges in succeeding academically in often less-than-ideal educational environments.