In short, the answer is 'we don't really know.'
Stanford University's Sean Reardon studies achievement gaps - the difference between how one group of students performs compared to another group.
When comparing black, white, and Latino students, Reardon says you see the importance not so much of race, but of class.
"Over the last 40 or so years, the black-white achievement gap and the Hispanic-white achievement gap have narrowed a lot," Reardon said. "On the other hand, the gap between high and low income students has increased quite dramatically."
Reardon said that particular gap has grown about 40% since the 1980s.
But while economic diversity might matter more in ensuring a quality education, that doesn't mean people want to give up on racial and ethnic diversity.
Ray Litt, a community activist involved in Detroit's Milliken v. Bradley case, reflected, "The desegregation action was to provide a quality integrated venue in which students and staff are exposed to and can interact with kids of different races religions and economic status," he said. "We all need to be able to be comfortable, not tolerating, a society that is the melting pot."
Racial diversity is not something you are likely to find in a majority of Detroit's schools, even after a hard fought desegregation plan.
Read more and listen to the whole story at State of Opportunity.
