In this paper we compare educational aspirations of pupils from the 8/9th grades at four elementary schools some of which belong to the catchment area for social exclusion-stricken neighborhoods in a county town. In this surroundings, an NGO operates which aims to prevent school drop-outs of socially-excluded pupils, support successful transition and adaptation on the second level of primary school whereby extracurricular education and activities strengthening their educational-career aspirations.
We point out some problematic facets of collaboration of this NGO and schools.