School choice algorithms are employed to allocate students to schools in situations where there are more students than available school places. These algorithms endeavour to assign students to schools in a fair and efficient manner, considering the preferences and priorities of both students and schools.
However, school choice algorithms can adversely affect marginalised communities. They can restrict access to high-quality public schools for families from predominantly black and low-income areas, result in unjust outcomes, give scant attention to racial diversity, and largely ignore the historical context of racial segregation and housing discrimination, which have historically shaped educational inequalities. This can perpetuate existing disparities and hinder efforts to address them (Swist & Gulson, 2023).