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Socioeconomic and Indigenous School Segregation in Australia: The Role of Institutional Differentiation and Fees

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Title: Socioeconomic and Indigenous School Segregation in Australia: The Role of Institutional Differentiation and Fees
Language: English
Authors: Michael G. Sciffer (ORCID 0000-0003-2552-8840), Laura B. Perry (ORCID 0000-0003-4252-2379), Andrew McConney (ORCID 0000-0001-7618-8829)
Source: British Educational Research Journal. 2026 52(1):564-590.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: School Segregation, Foreign Countries, Socioeconomic Status, Fees, Enrollment, Indigenous Populations, School Choice, Secondary School Students, Secondary Schools, Disproportionate Representation, Geographic Regions, Institutional Characteristics, Low Income Students
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1002/berj.70020
ISSN: 0141-1926
1469-3518
Abstract: School segregation is an international problem undermining the performance and equity of education systems. Australia's secondary schooling system offers international insights into the causes of segregation owing to it being one of the most segregated in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, its long history of school competition and privatisation, and a lack of government regulation of the fees, enrolment and exclusion policies of private schools. This study examines the role of institutional differentiation and school fees in the uneven enrolment of low socioeconomic status (SES) and Indigenous students within geographical areas over which school choice is a viable option. We found that no secondary school sector was representative of the Australian secondary student population and that there was substantial variation in segregation between states and territories. States and territories with lower rates of Catholic, independent and selective schools have lower levels of segregation. Indigenous students were doubly segregated into schools with high concentrations of low SES students. School segregation varied between geographical areas with the degree of institutional differentiation, and this was partially accounted for by school fees. Independent, Catholic and selective schools contributed to the segregation of low SES students while independent and Catholic schools contributed to the segregation of Indigenous students. Policy reform options include improving the funding and political support for government schools and raising the accountability of government-funded schools for the enrolment of low SES and Indigenous students. This study has relevance in the international comparison of causes and potential reforms of school segregation.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499124
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Socioeconomic and Indigenous School Segregation in Australia: The Role of Institutional Differentiation and Fees
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michael+G%2E+Sciffer%22">Michael G. Sciffer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-8840">0000-0003-2552-8840</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+B%2E+Perry%22">Laura B. Perry</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4252-2379">0000-0003-4252-2379</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+McConney%22">Andrew McConney</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-8829">0000-0001-7618-8829</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22British+Educational+Research+Journal%22"><i>British Educational Research Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 52(1):564-590.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 27
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Segregation%22">School Segregation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+Status%22">Socioeconomic Status</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fees%22">Fees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Enrollment%22">Enrollment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indigenous+Populations%22">Indigenous Populations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Choice%22">School Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+Schools%22">Secondary Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disproportionate+Representation%22">Disproportionate Representation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Regions%22">Geographic Regions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Characteristics%22">Institutional Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income+Students%22">Low Income Students</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/berj.70020
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  Data: 0141-1926<br />1469-3518
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  Data: School segregation is an international problem undermining the performance and equity of education systems. Australia's secondary schooling system offers international insights into the causes of segregation owing to it being one of the most segregated in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, its long history of school competition and privatisation, and a lack of government regulation of the fees, enrolment and exclusion policies of private schools. This study examines the role of institutional differentiation and school fees in the uneven enrolment of low socioeconomic status (SES) and Indigenous students within geographical areas over which school choice is a viable option. We found that no secondary school sector was representative of the Australian secondary student population and that there was substantial variation in segregation between states and territories. States and territories with lower rates of Catholic, independent and selective schools have lower levels of segregation. Indigenous students were doubly segregated into schools with high concentrations of low SES students. School segregation varied between geographical areas with the degree of institutional differentiation, and this was partially accounted for by school fees. Independent, Catholic and selective schools contributed to the segregation of low SES students while independent and Catholic schools contributed to the segregation of Indigenous students. Policy reform options include improving the funding and political support for government schools and raising the accountability of government-funded schools for the enrolment of low SES and Indigenous students. This study has relevance in the international comparison of causes and potential reforms of school segregation.
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        Value: 10.1002/berj.70020
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 27
        StartPage: 564
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Segregation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic Status
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Enrollment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indigenous Populations
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      – SubjectFull: School Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disproportionate Representation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Geographic Regions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Institutional Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Socioeconomic and Indigenous School Segregation in Australia: The Role of Institutional Differentiation and Fees
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