Immigrant Inclusion and Prospects through Schooling in Italy: An Analysis of Emerging Regional Patterns

The paper analyses immigrants’ school participation form pre-mandatory school to secondary school in Italy, with a particular regard to secondary schools, because schooling at this level is not compulsory, implying a voluntary decision, and is an indirect indicator of social mobility. The data show that the percentages of foreign repeaters (with a value of 8.5%) in the mandatory middle school are greater than those of Italian students (3.2%). The participation rates of immigrants in high school are lower than those of young Italians. Immigrant students prefer vocational schools and shorter-term education. The pattern of these preferences remains constant across the territory. The behavior of immigrants born in Italy is different from that of the first generation and more similar to that of Italian students. This convergence may indicate a positive integration process.