Our study aims to investigate how educational aspirations of students from different locations reinforce preexisting inequalities in achievement among students. Rural/urban disparity in students’ educational aspirations is often attributed to differences in family socio-economic background and school characteristics in rural and urban area (Khattri et al. 1997; Howley, 2006; Roscigno et al, 2006). In our research we go beyond rural - urban divide. We suggest that educational aspirations of students depend on the size of educational system and on the local rules of school selection and tracking.

World trends in contemporary educational policy are contradictory. Reforms aimed to broaden educational choice lead to the emergence of “school markets” where families exercise their free choice of schools. At the same time most countries strive to provide equal educational opportunity for everyone.

In current Russia both trends exist and have impact on the processes of students’ sorting between and within schools. While educational officials try to regulate between-school segregation, within-school streaming and sorting is not regulated. It depends on the location of the school (urban/rural), school size, principal’s decision and other factors. Sorting and school segregation differ across districts. The analysis of educational aspirations of students will be provided considering these factors of local context.

Khattri,N., Riley,K.W.,&Kane,M. B. (1997) Students at risk in poor, rural areas: A review of the research. Journal of Research in Rural Education. 13(2): 79−100. Howley C. W. (2006) Remote possibilities: Rural children's educational aspirations. Peabody Journal of Education. Volume 81. Issue 2: 62-80. Roscigno V., Tomaskovic-Devey D., Crowley M. (2006) Education and the Inequalities of Place. Social Forces 84 (4): 2121-2145.