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Academic mobility in U.S. public schools: Evidence from nearly 3 million students

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  • Austin, Wes
  • Figlio, David
  • Goldhaber, Dan
  • Hanushek, Eric A.
  • Kilbride, Tara
  • Koedel, Cory
  • Sean Lee, Jaeseok
  • Lou, Jin
  • Özek, Umut
  • Parsons, Eric
  • Rivkin, Steven G.
  • Sass, Tim R.
  • Strunk, Katharine O.

Abstract

We use administrative panel data from seven states covering nearly 3 million students to document and explore variation in “academic mobility,” a term we use to describe the extent to which students’ ranks in the distribution of academic performance change during their public schooling careers. We find that student ranks are highly persistent during elementary and secondary education—that is, academic mobility is limited in U.S. schools on the whole. Still, there is non-negligible variation in the degree of upward mobility across some student subgroups as well as individual school districts. On average, districts that exhibit the greatest upward academic mobility serve more socioeconomically advantaged populations and have higher value-added to student achievement.

Suggested Citation

  • Austin, Wes & Figlio, David & Goldhaber, Dan & Hanushek, Eric A. & Kilbride, Tara & Koedel, Cory & Sean Lee, Jaeseok & Lou, Jin & Özek, Umut & Parsons, Eric & Rivkin, Steven G. & Sass, Tim R. & Strunk, 2023. "Academic mobility in U.S. public schools: Evidence from nearly 3 million students," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:228:y:2023:i:c:s0047272723001986
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2023.105016
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