More Ambitious Educational Choices in Urban Areas

Abstract

Urban–rural disparities in educational outcomes have so far primarily received attention in U.S.-based research. These studies show that pupils in rural areas are at a disadvantage compared with pupils in (sub)urban areas. This article aims to examine urban–nonurban differences in educational choice in a European context, namely Flanders (the northern part of Belgium). To do so, we make use of data gathered from 1,339 parents of pupils in a sample of 53 primary schools (24 urban, 29 nonurban). We find that pupils in urban areas make more ambitious choices and that this is partly explained by local labor market conditions.