Chile's Voucher System Stratification

Wealthy families attend elite private schools for free using government vouchers, while the poor remain trapped in underfunded public institutions receiving 30% less per pupil than voucher-funded private schools. A 2025 OECD report showed that Chilean students' socioeconomic background predicts 60% of academic outcomes, the highest correlation among member nations. The system funnels $4.8 billion annually but reinforces stratification: only 15% of low-income students achieve university eligibility, compared to 70% of high-income peers.