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 journalArticleScientificpeer-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 languageEnglish
JournalUrban Education
Volume55
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1461-1488
Number of pages28
ISSN0042-0859
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020
MoE publication typeA1 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

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