The local residential environment is shown to be a major factor affecting the educational attainment of thirteen-year-old and fifteen-year-old schoolchildren. Its strength and effect relative to other variables, like intelligence and social class, are demonstrated via path analysis. It has a greater influence on the educational attainment of girls than of boys. Possible processes leading to both the differential and the general effect are discussed. The scale of analysis suggests that exactly where within a catchment area people live affects their children's educational attainment.
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