Two Types of Class Attainment Mediated by Education

The Effects of High School Rank and Type on Class Destination

Abstract

Studies examining the association between educational attainment and class destination have mainly revealed that years of schooling and school rank affect oneʼs social destination. However, to further investigate this relationship, it is necessary to analyze and interpret the following three factors related to oneʼs educational attainment: (1)the differences in the upper secondary level, such as high school rank and type, (2)whether one enters higher education or not, and (3)the differences in higher educational institutions, such as college and major selection. To distinguish these three effects, it is important to focus on upper secondary education.

Therefore, this paper examines the manner in which individual educational attainment affects oneʼs social destination by focusing on the influence of high school rank and type, considering the effects of entering a higher education institution and its differences. The paper particularly focuses on whether higher ranks in high school directly lead to the attainment of higher social class.

The analysis shows that the effect of high school rank and type on class destination is still substantial despite considering the effects of entry into higher education institutions and their differences. Moreover, the hierarchical levels of higher rank in high school do not fully correspond to those of class destination; the influence of the high school type is more significant for attaining non-upper classes. This suggests that there are two types of class attainment in Japan. One is achievement-based attainment, in which those who enter a higher-ranked school and attain higher education reach higher class positions. Second is occupationbased attainment, in which one aims to enter specific occupations related to school type.