"I wanted to go here": Adolescents' perspectives on school choice. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mandic, Sandra; Sandretto, Susan; Hopkins, Debbie; Wilson, Gordon; Moore, Antoni; García Bengoechea, Enrique
• Is Part Of: Journal of school choice. Volume 12:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Secondary schools -- school choice -- New Zealand -- adolescents; School choice -- United States -- Periodicals; School choice; United States; Periodicals; 370
• DOI: 10.1080/15582159.2017.1381543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-2159

Abstract

ABSTRACT: New Zealand legislation removing school zones radically reshaped school choice, resulting in increased school stratification from parental choice frequently driven by social factors such as ethnic makeup of the school community. This article considers school choice through the eyes of 1, 465 adolescents from 12 secondary schools in Dunedin (New Zealand). The most common reasons for school choice included: preference for a coeducational school, school's facilities, positive comments from parents/students, and friends' enrollment. Reasons for school choice differed by who was making the decision. Social factors and school programs/facilities, rather than proximity to home, influenced school choice decisions in Dunedin.