Abstract

ESPINDOLA MATA, Juan; HEREDIA RUBIO, Blanca  and  VAZQUEZ CUEVAS, Marisol. The Value of Schooling for Elite High School Students in Mexico City. REDIE [online]. 2019, vol.21, e06.  Epub Apr 15, 2020. ISSN 1607-4041.  https://doi.org/10.24320/redie.2019.21.e06.1833.

This paper examines the value of schooling for students of elite high schools in Mexico City. The study begins by documenting the fact that these students’ academic performance is poor in comparison to students of similar socio-economic status in other countries, and on the basis of their results in standardized national tests. Clearly, such unsatisfactory academic performance by these students, who attend private institutions with a wealth of resources, cannot be attributed to financial hardship and a resulting lack of educational opportunities. This work explores the hypothesis that, for young students from this social circle - who enjoy vast inherited wealth - educational merit and talent do not play a key role in their conception of life or professional development. To support this hypothesis, this study explores the value placed on schooling both by parents and the directors of elite private schools.

Keywords : Private schools; private education; schooling; social class.