School Choice to Lower Secondary Schools and Mechanisms of Segregation in Urban Finland

Sonja Kosunen; Venla Bernelius; Piia Seppänen; Miina Porkka

doi:10.1177/0042085916666933

School Choice to Lower Secondary Schools and Mechanisms of Segregation in Urban Finland

Sonja Kosunen, Venla Bernelius, Piia Seppänen, Miina Porkka

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

We explore the interconnections of pupil admission and school choice with the socioeconomic composition of schools in the city of Espoo, Finland. We analyze pupil enrollment from residential areas, and compare the schools' expected and actual socioeconomic profiles using GIS software (MapInfo). Social-diversification mechanisms within urban comprehensive schooling emerged: Distinctive choices of language and selective classes are made predominantly by pupils from residential blocks with higher socioeconomic profiles. The role of urban segregation in school choice seems to be stronger than predicted. As mechanisms of educational distinction accompanied with grouping policies, choice leads to socioeconomic segregation across and within schools.

Original language	English
Journal	Urban Education
Volume	55
Issue number	10
Pages (from-to)	1461-1488
Number of pages	28
ISSN	0042-0859
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085916666933
Publication status	Published - Dec 2020
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

516 Educational sciences
519 Social and economic geography
segregation
selection
GIS
Finland
school choice
urban education
MIDDLE-CLASS PARENTS
COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL
VOCATIONAL STUDENTS
TRACKING SHARPEN
LOCAL SCHOOL
SOCIAL-CLASS
EDUCATION
NEIGHBORHOODS
PERFORMANCE
IDENTITIES

Access to Document

10.1177/0042085916666933

Kosunen, Bernelius, Seppänen, Porkka 2018 kaksoistallenneAccepted author manuscript, 508 KB

Cite this

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title = "School Choice to Lower Secondary Schools and Mechanisms of Segregation in Urban Finland",

abstract = "We explore the interconnections of pupil admission and school choice with the socioeconomic composition of schools in the city of Espoo, Finland. We analyze pupil enrollment from residential areas, and compare the schools' expected and actual socioeconomic profiles using GIS software (MapInfo). Social-diversification mechanisms within urban comprehensive schooling emerged: Distinctive choices of language and selective classes are made predominantly by pupils from residential blocks with higher socioeconomic profiles. The role of urban segregation in school choice seems to be stronger than predicted. As mechanisms of educational distinction accompanied with grouping policies, choice leads to socioeconomic segregation across and within schools.",

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author = "Sonja Kosunen and Venla Bernelius and Piia Sepp{\"a}nen and Miina Porkka",

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T1 - School Choice to Lower Secondary Schools and Mechanisms of Segregation in Urban Finland

AU - Kosunen, Sonja

AU - Bernelius, Venla

AU - Seppänen, Piia

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KW - GIS

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KW - NEIGHBORHOODS

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