A Louisiana school district has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to establish a magnet school within a historically Black school zone. This move aims to attract a diverse student body from across the district and address a desegregation lawsuit dating back to 1965.

The agreement, approved by a federal judge, involves the St. Martin Parish School District. Magnet schools typically offer specialized programs to draw students from various backgrounds and areas.

The Justice Department stated that the district will actively encourage student transfers to promote desegregation and collaborate with them and private plaintiffs to develop a comprehensive magnet school program. The goal is to attract a diverse student population and desegregate the historically Black school zone.

Following the implementation of the magnet school plan, the school system can seek a court declaration of "unitary status" regarding its admissions policies after the 2025-2026 school year. Unitary status signifies the elimination of the effects of past segregation. If, within 45 days of the request, all involved parties and the court concur, the district's admission process could be deemed unitary.

However, achieving unitary status wouldn't entirely conclude the lawsuit. Other aspects of the case, such as potential attendance zone adjustments, faculty desegregation, disciplinary procedures, and graduation pathways, remain under the court's jurisdiction. The Justice Department will continue to monitor the district's compliance with the agreement.

This 1965 St. Martin case is among numerous school desegregation cases stemming from the Civil Rights era. The Justice Department is involved in 14 other similar cases in Louisiana and over 130 nationwide.