On Sept. 4, 1975, Louisville took its first step in what would be a decades-long commitment to racially integrating schools through busing.

That day, students across Jefferson County boarded yellow school buses, with Black students headed to formerly White suburban schools, while White students were bused to formerly Black inner city schools.

Fifty years later, Jefferson County Public Schools continues to draw national praise for its prolonged integration efforts — though a new student assignment plan that prioritizes family choice over forced busing is already leading to decreased diversity in some schools.

Myths also continue to persist regarding how busing affected Louisville's schools and neighborhoods, with many believing the city experienced large amounts of white flight when it c

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