Ethnic school segregation

Date and country of first publication

2007
Italy

Definition

Ethnic school segregation refers to the practice of separating students into schools based on their ethnicity or race. This form of segregation can be both de facto, occurring due to neighborhood demographics, or de jure, enforced by policies or laws.

Historically, ethnic school segregation has been prevalent in many societies, particularly during times of widespread discrimination and inequality. In the United States, for example, schools were often segregated based on race until the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which deemed racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

In some cases, ethnic school segregation continues to persist today, often due to the socio-economic factors that influence residential patterns and school enrollment. This can result in schools predominantly serving students from a particular ethnic or racial background, leading to unequal opportunities and disparities in educational quality.

Ethnic school segregation has been criticized for perpetuating inequality, promoting stereotypes, and limiting social integration and understanding. Many argue that diverse schools provide more inclusive learning environments that foster tolerance, empathy, and cultural exchange among students from different backgrounds.

Efforts to address ethnic school segregation include implementing policies to promote diversity and integration, such as using affirmative action measures in school admissions, creating magnet schools or specialized programs to attract a diverse student body, or redrawing school district boundaries to ensure diverse student populations.

However, achieving a fully integrated and diverse education system can be complex and faces challenges such as resistance from communities or logistical issues. Nonetheless, many believe that it is crucial to work towards eliminating ethnic school segregation to ensure equal access to quality education and foster a more inclusive society.

Notes

At its current state, this definition has been generated by a Large Language Model (LLM) so far without review by an independent researcher or a member of the curating team of segregation experts that keep the Segregation Wiki online. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its reliability, completeness and timeliness. Please use this content with caution and verify information as needed. Also, feel free to improve on the definition as you see fit, including the use of references and other informational resources. We value your input in enhancing the quality and accuracy of the definitions of segregation forms collectively offered in the Segregation Wiki ©.

Further reading

Dronkers J., Levels M. (2007) Do school segregation and school resources explain region of origin differences in the mathematics achievement of immigrant students?. Educational Research and Evaluation, 13(5), 435-462. [1]

Kristen C. (2008) Primary school choice and ethnic school segregation in German elementary schools. European Sociological Review, 24(4), 495-510. [2]

Valiente O., Rambla X. (2009) The new Other Catalans at school: Decreasing unevenness but increasing isolation. International Studies in Sociology of Education, 19(2), 105-117. [3]

Alegre M.À., Ferrer-Esteban G. (2010) How do school regimes tackle ethnic segregation: Some insights supported in PISA 2006. Quality and Inequality of Education: Cross-National Perspectives, 137-162. Springer Netherlands.[4]

Di Bartolomeo A. (2011) Explaining the gap in educational achievement between second generation immigrants and natives: The Italian case. Journal of Modern Italian Studies, 16(4), 437-449. [5]

Hamnett C. (2012) Concentration or diffusion? the changing geography of ethnic minority pupils in English secondary schools, 1999 2009. Urban Studies, 49(8), 1741-1766. [6]

Agirdag O., van Houtte M., van Avermaet P. (2012) Ethnic School Segregation and Self Esteem: The Role of Teacher Pupil Relationships. Urban Education, 47(6), 1135-1159. SAGE Publications Inc..[7]

Makles A., Schneider K. (2015) Much ado about nothing? The role of primary school catchment areas for ethnic school segregation: Evidence from a policy reform. German Economic Review, 16(2), 203-225. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.[8]

Wicht A. (2016) Occupational aspirations and ethnic school segregation: social contagion effects among native German and immigrant youths. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 42(11), 1825-1845. Routledge.[9]

Teltemann J., Schunck R. (2016) Education systems, school segregation, and second generation immigrants’ educational success: Evidence from a country fixed effects approach using three waves of PISA. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 57(6), 401-424. SAGE Publications Ltd.[10]

Van der Bracht K., D’hondt F., Van Houtte M., Van de Putte B., Stevens P.A.J. (2016) The role of ethnic school segregation for adolescents’ religious salience. Oxford Review of Education, 42(2), 129-145. Routledge.[11]

Plenty S., Jonsson J.O. (2017) Social Exclusion among Peers: The Role of Immigrant Status and Classroom Immigrant Density. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46(6), 1275-1288. Springer New York LLC.[12]

Waldring I. (2017) Practices of change in the education sector: professionals dealing with ethnic school segregation. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 40(2), 247-263. Routledge.[13]

Brandén M., Birkelund G.E., Szulkin R. (2019) Ethnic Composition of Schools and Students’ Educational Outcomes: Evidence from Sweden. International Migration Review, 53(2), 486-517. SAGE Publications Ltd.[14]

Nielsen R.S., Andersen H.T. (2019) Ethnic school segregation in Copenhagen: A step in the right direction?. Urban Studies, 56(15), 3234-3250. SAGE Publications Ltd.[15]

Lund S. (2020) Immigrant Incorporation, Education, and the Boundaries of Belonging. Immigrant Incorporation, Education, and the Boundaries of Belonging, 1-131. Springer International Publishing.[16]

Sage L., Flache A. (2021) Can ethnic tolerance curb self reinforcing school segregation? A theoretical agent based model. JASSS, 24(2), -. University of Surrey.[17]

Tapia E. (2023) Schools’ priority rules and ethnic school segregation. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 44(2), 331-354. Routledge.[18]

Mitchell P.M. (2023) Measuring ethnic school segregation within local educational markets in England. Cambridge Journal of Education, 53(1), 19-42. Routledge.[19]