Social Inequalities in French Secondary Schools: from figures to theories

Abstract In spite of the unified type of junior secondary school (the ‘college') implemented in France since 1975, significant social inequalities of school careers can be observed today. A specific longitudinal study sheds some light on the variety of mechanisms which generate these social inequalities. Difference in academic progress is one mechanism, but parents’ strategies are also important. Finally, another aspect of social inequality arises from the school attended, some schools being more selective at the streaming points, these ‘school effects’ being related to the social characteristics of the pupils of the catchment area. All these facts and figures have some relevance with regard to different sociological theories about social inequalities in school careers. They also bring into question the educational policies implemented in France over the last 15 years.