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Can You Leave High School Behind?

Author

Listed:
  • Black, Sandra E.

    (Columbia University)

  • Lincove, Jane Arnold

    (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

  • Cullinane, Jenna

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Veron, Rachel

    (University of Texas at Austin)

Abstract
In recent years, many states, including California, Texas, and Oregon, have changed admissions policies to increase access to public universities for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A key concern, however, is how these students will perform. This paper examines the relationship between high school quality and student success at college. Using newly available administrative data from the University of Texas at Austin, we take advantage of the unique policy environment provided by Texas's Top Ten Percent automatic admissions law, which has not only increased the diversity of high schools in the state that send students to the university, but also provides an admission criteria based on a sole observable characteristic: high school class rank. We find that high school characteristics do affect student performance, and these effects seem more pronounced for women and low-income students. In addition, there is little evidence that the effects of high school characteristics decay over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Black, Sandra E. & Lincove, Jane Arnold & Cullinane, Jenna & Veron, Rachel, 2014. "Can You Leave High School Behind?," IZA Discussion Papers 7899, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7899
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp7899.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rajeev Darolia & Cory Koedel, 2018. "High Schools And Students' Initial Colleges And Majors," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 692-710, October.
    2. Lisa Meehan & Gail Pacheco & Zoe Pushon, 2017. "Explaining ethnic disparities in bachelor's qualifications: Participation, retention and completion in NZ," Working Papers 2017/01, New Zealand Productivity Commission.
    3. Lisa Meehan & Gail Pacheco & Zoe Pushon, 2017. "Explaining ethnic disparities in bachelor’s degree participation: Evidence from NZ," Working Papers 2017-03, Auckland University of Technology, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    high school quality; higher education access; college outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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