Direct and indirect influences of school system on youth delinquent offending among migrant and native-born students in eight countries

Schools are an important gateway to better prospects for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. In countries with a stratified school system, children are selected into different educational tracks according to their abilities, in some countries, as early as age 10 or 11 (OECD, 2013). This process is also referred to as tracking, streaming or ability grouping (Hanushek & Wößmann, 2006). Tracks substantially determine progress to future education and career opportunities. By contrast, in countries with comprehensive school system, all students follow education together, and no selection takes place before age 15 or 16. Proponents of tracking assert that more homogeneous classes allow education in a pace appropriate to all students and that tracking as such offers a more efficient way to organise education (see Ansalone, 2003; Hanushek & Wößmann, 2006). Students in higher tracks indeed seem to benefit from education in academic tracks.