Russia has been steering ninth-graders toward vocational college instead of regular high school. The country’s top court just ruled that one school went too far by outright refusing a student.

Russia's Supreme Court has recently ruled that a school violated a student's rights by denying him the opportunity to continue his education after ninth grade. The court stated that successfully finishing a general education is not a reason for expulsion. The case involved Valentina Berseneva, a resident of Sverdlovsk region, whose son was not allowed to enter the 10th grade due to the school's focus on specialized tracks for vocational education.

Berseneva sought to have her son's expulsion order overturned, but three lower courts rejected her request. The Supreme Court's panel for administrative cases then invalidated the school's decision. Russian authorities have been increasing pressure on students to enroll in vocational schools after ninth grade instead of pursuing regular high school.

Doing so makes it more difficult to gain admission to a university and also forfeits deferment from compulsory military service, as it is considered as having been used while in vocational school.