A Study of Elite Education in Chinese International High Schools

Abstract

The article examines the meaning of elite and elite education, as well as the characteristics of elite schools in China. Elite schools are institutions that offer education to a small number of predominantly middle or upper-class students. The admissions process for these schools is competitive and costly, resulting in a majority of middle- or upper-class pupils. The schools are also distinguished by the acquisition of cultural capital, a resource that embodies or generates cultural worth. Due to the lack of cultural capital, students from lower socioeconomic origins are excluded from top universities. In addition, the piece discusses the effects of tiny class sizes in top institutions, which are touted as a way to provide each student individualised attention. Yet, the effect of class size on student progress is dependent on instructional strategies. The article claimed that elite education has caused a vicious cycle of increased educational inequality, which has widened the gap between socioeconomic classes.