“Residential gentrification” without “school gentrification” in the Parisian close suburbs

Lise Lécuyer and Marco Oberti

Chapter 8 in Gentrification and Schooling in Global Cities, 2026, pp 177-196 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In the Paris metropolitan area, rising housing prices are pushing many upper-middle-class families into historically working-class inner suburbs. We examine how these relocations, focusing on middle school-aged children, affect the socio-economic composition of public schools. Despite residence-based school assignment, these moves rarely lead to “school gentrification,” as many families opt for private schools instead. Using individual-level microdata, we analyze school choice determinants in gentrifying and non-gentrifying areas. Opting out is strongly shaped by social class and housing tenure, but not simply by avoiding disadvantaged peers. It is also widespread in advantaged municipalities, driven by selective schooling strategies. Crucially, opting out increases when nearby schools are more advantaged than the assigned public school. Thus, accessible private options and relatively affordable homeownership in working-class suburbs fuel gentrification while reinforcing class-based school choices.

Keywords: Gentrification; School Choice; School Gentrification; Housing Tenure; Upper-Middle Classes; Paris Metropolitan Area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035346677
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