- School characteristics matter. Organizational and compositional characteristics of schools (school electivity, academic inclusiveness, and school SES ) affect the track placement of students.
- The effects of the school variable are significant when interacting with student level variables (ability and SES).
- School variables operate directly and through interaction with student ability and SES.
- Low electivity is associated with a greater likelihood that students will be placed in the general track rather than academic or vocational.
- The academic inclusiveness affect the initial track placement and later achievement. The higher the school SES, the more likely that students will be placed into the academic rather than the general track. In lower SES schools, students are more likely to be placed in vocational than general tracks.
- School SES interacts with student ability and SES—higher ability and higher SES students are more likely to be in the academic track.