1. ¹Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
2. ²Department of Civil Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

Correspondence: I Gac, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Chile, Republica 701, Santiago, Chile. E-mail: igac@ing.uchile.cl

Received December 2006; Accepted February 2008; Published online 25 June 2008.

Abstract

This paper presents a deterministic linear optimization model to support decisions on optimal allocation of schools to zones, its characterization and assignment of students, maximizing the social benefits of school owners and students. Students are assumed to show a multi-attribute behaviour, considering as important not only location, as is usual in the literature, but also quality of education and infrastructure, school costs and other attributes. There is heterogeneity of supply and demand. Students are classified by place of residence and socio-economic characteristics. Schools can be private, subsidized or free municipal ones. The model developed is applied to data of one of the municipalities of Santiago. The results obtained under different scenarios tend to confirm the expected demand's behaviour. This model could be used to guide decisions of both school owners or municipalities as well as students towards an equilibrium closer to a social optimum.