[2] After the Supreme Court holding in Brown v. Board, which declared the doctrine of "separate but equal" schools to be unconstitutional, a "freedom of choice plan" was instituted from 1964 through 1969, which was designed to give the appearance of compliance with the law but in practice maintain a segregated system.
In 1969, the district attempted to use intelligence tests to further segregated education, but were disappointed that the results would have required 1/3 of the white students to attend black schools.
Then the Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education decision superseded this by demanding the integration of all schools in January 1970.
[2] When all public schools were required to be integrated in 1970, white students were directed by community leaders to report to one of three local churches.
Stephanie N. Mehta of Fortune said that because of the influx, the Tunica district pays "good teacher salaries by Mississippi standards".
"[4] In July 2015, the Mississippi Board of Education requested that Governor Phil Bryant take over the Tunica County School District.
The Board was critical both of Tunica County's elected superintendent, Stephen Chandler, and of the district's special education program.