Socio-economic and cultural status and school education in Italy. Results of a scoping review

The aim of this study is to provide a synthesis of the most recent empirical research examining the relationship between economic, social and cultural status (ESCS) and school education in Italy, in relation to learning outcomes, career guidance, and dropout rates. To this end, we conducted ascoping review. Analysis of the 26 studies reveals that the most investigated indicators are the parental education and poverty status. The relationship between ESCS and education has been predominantly studied in terms of learning outcomes, followed by its impact on school dropout. Results show a positive association between the indicators of ESCS and academic performance, with familial background influencing the choice of educational pathway and the level of educationattained.