The sociology of education is primarily concerned with the role of education in social stratification, or the process by which individuals and groups are ranked in a society based on their social, economic, and cultural characteristics.

Cultural Reproduction Theory, developed by Pierre Bourdieu, emphasizes the role of cultural capital, or the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are valued in a particular society, in educational attainment.

Educational Stratification refers to the process by which schools contribute to the reproduction of social inequality by sorting students into different educational tracks based on their social class, race, and gender.

Conflict Theory argues that schools are primarily agents of social control, serving to maintain the existing social order by socializing students into accepting their place in society and by providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to fulfill their roles in the economy.

Educational Tracking refers to the process by which students from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately placed in lower-track classes, which offer a less rigorous curriculum and fewer opportunities for academic success.

Social Capital Theory emphasizes the importance of social networks and relationships in educational attainment, arguing that students who have access to social capital are more likely to succeed in school.

Gender Segregation refers to the process by which schools contribute to the reproduction of gender inequality by separating boys and girls into different classes, programs, or activities.

Functionalist Theory argues that schools are primarily meritocratic institutions, providing equal opportunities for all students to succeed, regardless of their social class, race, or gender.

Racial Segregation refers to the process by which schools contribute to the reproduction of racial inequality by separating students of different races into different schools, classes, or programs.

Rational Choice Theory emphasizes the importance of individual agency and choice in educational attainment, arguing that students make rational choices about their education based on their own goals and aspirations.

Class Segregation refers to the process by which schools contribute to the reproduction of class inequality by separating students from different social classes into different schools, classes, or programs.

Human Capital Theory argues that schools are primarily economic institutions, serving to prepare students for the workforce by providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to be productive workers.

Cultural Segregation refers to the process by which schools contribute to the reproduction of cultural inequality by separating students from different cultural backgrounds into different schools, classes, or programs.

Symbolic Interactionism emphasizes the importance of symbolic interaction and the construction of meaning in educational settings, arguing that students and teachers interact with each other in ways that shape their understanding of the world and their place in it.