Segregation academies, also known as “seg academies” or “white academies,” were private schools established in the South, in response to the desegregation of public schools following the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The Guardian’s Gary Younge notes,

After the US supreme court ordered the end of segregation 50 years ago, many white southerners simply moved their children from state schools to private academies, often referred to as “seg academies” because they effectively kept segregation intact.

Regrettably, these schools frequently garnered backing from local communities and occasionally even public funds via voucher programs or tax credits. Their goal was to uphold white supremacy and segregationist beliefs by offering an alternative to integrated public schools. Consequently, taxpayer funds bolstered discriminatory practices, impeding integration efforts and fostering a fractured educational system. This cycle perpetuates systemic injustice and erodes the principles of equal educational access for all students.