Schooling in a segregated city: a mixed-methods study of growing inequalities and compensating strategies in stigmatized schools

Applying a mixed-methods approach, the study examines the impact of residential and school segregation in Gothenburg, Sweden, highlighting the challenges in disadvantaged areas due to education marketization and school choice. Zooming in on the overall distribution of students’ school grades, family backgrounds, and school providers in the disadvantaged area, the article explores how these dynamics exacerbate inequalities, with public schools increasingly serving vulnerable students without adequate resources. Interviews reveal strategies principals and students use to navigate the segregated landscape. The findings stress the need for policies that ensure equitable educational opportunities across different socioeconomic and ethnic groups within urban settings.