Gaming the no-choice system? School choice and persistent educational inequality in China

Abstract

The admission policy for public compulsory schools in China is neighbourhood enrolment which entitles children to attend their assigned local school free of charge, and this policy has been rigorously implemented in recent years to prevent school choice. However, driven by disparities in education provision, parents still find ways to make choices in an officially no-choice public educational system. Inspired by a Bourdieusian framework, this study uses the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to explore the relationships between family capital, school choice, and the quality of the school pupils attend. We seek to offer a lens to explore the prevalence and patterns of school choice, and its impact on constructing educational stratification. Findings suggest persistent inequality in the no-choice policy context and that children from more privileged families are more likely to study in higher performing schools.