Well, is that surprising? Politically speaking, in word the US is committed to integrated schools but in deed it is not really a priority and most of efforts do essentially look like "separate but equal." I think it's shameful but it's reality.

I'm not even sure what "separate schools" means. Yes, schools are separate. But at some point, a school's constituents need to take some responsibility for improving conditions. You can't just send the kids across town, driving the wealthy kids out of the public system. That is not the solution.

I guess I'm just a little bit tired of the suggestions that the solutions lie with everyone else except for the people involved.

Not the OP, but that's the point of having a system of schools with multiple locations. They should be equal or else some kid is getting held back.

The big part of the problem is the continued use of property taxes and local bonds to pay for schools. Poor neighborhoods don't have the money for either.