Washington, D.C. ? The Supreme Court justices, hearing arguments on school integration, signaled Monday they are likely to bar the use of race when assigning students to public schools.

Such a ruling could deal a blow to potentially hundreds of school systems across the U.S. that use racial guidelines to maintain a semblance of classroom integration in cities whose neighborhoods are divided along racial lines.

However, it would be a major victory for those who have called for “color-blind” decision-making by public officials.

Monday’s argument also might mark the emergence of a five-member majority determined to outlaw the official use of race guidelines in schools, colleges and public agencies.

At issue were the racial-integration guidelines adopted by school boards in Seattle and Louisville, Ky.

The court will issue a ruling in several months.