Social segregation, middle schools, residential segregation, family choices, socio-economic context, educational inequalities, school climate, social mixity, local policies
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Abstract
This document discusses the factors influencing social segregation in middle schools, its measurement, and the impact of local policies on reducing segregation.
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[...] We then speak of social segregation between schools. The DEPP, the statistical service of the Ministry in charge of National Education, publishes statistics on social segregation between schools. It evaluates this segregation through an entropy index ranging from 0 to 0 being the score obtained when students are evenly distributed between colleges and 1 being the score that would be obtained if schools only educated students from the same social class. This index allows us to better understand the level of segregation and make comparisons to study its causes. [...]
[...] In France, social segregation between schools is high. Furthermore, research agrees that there is a strong correlation between the socio-economic environment in which children grow up and their academic performance. Segregation is high in France, however, in middle school, the effects of segregation on performance are weak. Furthermore, the effects of social segregation go beyond the cognitive level. The school climate in disadvantaged areas is degraded. As a result, students' academic ambitions are lower. On the other hand, in more favorable contexts, the school climate encourages students to persevere. [...]
[...] The private sector participates in social segregation in middle school, but its role needs to be nuanced. In fact, in the absence of a private school on a territory, we observe that segregation is not much weaker than in a territory where the private sector is more developed. Question What avenues can be explored to advance research and better inform public action? In the context of future work, it would be necessary to expand the research with data from international statistics. [...]
[...] For example, in some departments, segregation between middle schools has decreased, and this would deserve to be analyzed further in order to be inspired by it. The 'Strengthening social mix in middle schools' plan has shown that local policies have reduced social segregation between middle schools. These local policies, for example, have improved sectorization or set up multi-school sectors. Finally, the current demographic decline may lead to reconsidering the modalities of student distribution between middle schools, and it is essential to take into account in this reflection the criteria of social mixity. [...]
