Public and private schooling in France: an investigation into family choice

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Abstract
Since the end of the 1970s, more than a third of all French pupils have attended private schools either continuously or temporarily. The private sector appeared as a second chance, but one that was not seized in equal proportions by all social classes and was thus a source of new inequalities. Moreover, it appeared that although pupil recruitment in the public sector was more democratic, the private sector had more success in equalizing results and scholastic careers. Today school switching continues to increase: more than 40% of pupils attend or have attended the private sector at one point in time and almost one family in two makes use of it for at least one child. In this respect, we have observed important similarities in the school careers of parents and children: some families remain loyal to one of the two sectors while others switch between sectors. Ideologically-based choices seem to be on the decline: the main reason families use the private sector is to improve their childrens' education. There remain, however, important regional differences in provision and use of the private sector.

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