Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
Home> Volumes> Volume CHR Vol.111> Article
Research Article

The Influence of Family Capital on Parents' School Choice for Junior High School Admission under the "Equal Enrollment for Public and Private Schools" Policy: An Analysis of the Mediating Effect Based on Educational Expectations

Yueyue HuangNingbo University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The "equal enrollment for public and private schools" policy is a key reform to promote equity in compulsory education, but parents' school choice behavior is still widespread. Based on capital theory and education choice theory, this study takes District Z of City N as the research object, analyzes 415 questionnaire survey data, and uses binary Logistic regression and mediating effect test methods to explore the influencing factors and mechanism of school choice for junior high school admission. The study finds that family capital has a significant positive impact on school choice behavior; educational expectations play a partial mediating role between family capital and school choice behavior. The "equal enrollment for public and private schools" policy has only changed the form of school choice without eradicating the deep-seated motivation for school choice, and on the contrary, it has intensified the "capital-dependent" education game to a certain extent. Based on this, this paper puts forward suggestions from three aspects: policy optimization, resource balance, and parental guidance to boost the equitable development of compulsory education.

Keywords: equal enrollment for public and private schools; parents' school choice for junior high school admission; family capital; educational expectations
Published: June 15, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.34402
Volume: CHR Vol.111
pp. 148-158
Download PDF

References

  1. Song, D. Q. (2011). A "cold" reflection behind the "school choice craze". Southeast University Journal (Philosophy and Social Science Edition), 13(S2), 120-122.
  2. Ye, X. Y. (2012). "School choice by power": Parents' political capital and children's school choice. World Economic Papers, (4), 52-73.
  3. Sun, J., & Cheng, J. K. (2020). Design and promotion of the "equal enrollment for public and private schools" system in compulsory education. Journal of the Chinese Society of Education, (7), 44-49.
  4. Coleman, J. S. (1968). Equality of educational opportunity. Integrated Education, (5), 19-28.
  5. Doko, P. B., Ong'Ele, S., et al. (2018). Parents, quality, and school choice: Why parents in Nairobi choose low-cost private schools over public schools in Kenya's free primary education era. Oxford Review of Education, 44(2), 258-274.
  6. Zou, W., & Ma, Z. L. (2019). Family background, intergenerational transmission and educational inequality. China Industrial Economics, (2), 80-98.
  7. Fang, C. C. (2005). An analysis of non-academic factors in family background and educational tracking. Society, (4), 105-117.
  8. He, X. Z. (2019). An analysis of the influence of family capital on access to higher education opportunities. Contemporary Education Forum, (4), 34-40.
  9. Cheng, M., & Kang, Y. J. (2016). "Things may be benefited by being damaged" — Another interpretation of underlying cultural capital. Tsinghua Journal of Education, (4), 83-91.
  10. Yaish, M., & Katz-Gerro, T. (2012). Disentangling 'cultural capital': The consequences of cultural and economic resources for taste and participation. European Sociological Review, 28(2), 169-185.
  11. Yang, L., & Zhang, T. J. (2020). Family background, key middle schools and educational attainment. Education and Economy, (5), 33-41.
  12. Sewell, W., & Hauser, R. (1993). The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of social and psychological factors in aspirations and achievements. Research in Sociology of Education & Socialization, (1), 59-100.
  13. Lu, G. S., Liu, S., & Zhong, Y. P. (2009). An analysis of gender differences in higher education demand and major choice and their influencing factors. Journal of Higher Education, 30(10), 14-29.
  14. Lu, X. Y. (2003). The differentiation and mobility of social strata in contemporary China. Jiangsu Social Sciences, (4), 1-9.
  15. Liu, H. H. (2013). A study on the relationship between educational expectations of primary school teachers' children and their attitude towards talent learning in Pingtung County (Master's thesis). National Pingtung University of Education.
  16. Zhou, X. H., & Zhang, Y. (2015). An analysis of family education costs and their influencing factors in senior high school. Tsinghua Journal of Education, 36(5), 110-119.
  17. Li, H. S. (2019). An analysis of the influencing factors of doctoral students' delayed completion of studies. Fudan Education Forum, 17(3), 52-59.