Optimization of school zones helps creating socially mixed schools. In cities in particular, the composition of the student body varies greatly between schools. This is problematic because the social composition of schools has an effect on the performance of students – regardless of their individual background. Following the pilot study on the city of Zurich, the follow-up study examines school segregation in the five next largest Swiss cities Bern, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne and Winterthur. Moreover, it examines the potential of a data-based procedure to achieve more mixed school catchment zones. The optimization procedure can support student allocation and future class room planning. At an online event on March 31, 2021, education policymakers discussed the implications of the research findings.
Study / presentation slides (both in English)
Further materials (in German)
Media release / media release (French)