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Does School Socio-economic Status Influence University Outcomes?

Author

Listed:
  • Ian W. Li

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • A. Michael Dockery

    (Curtin University)

Abstract

This study explores the role of schools’ socioeconomic status in determining academic performance at university. Data for first year domestic undergraduates at an Australian university in 2011 to 2013 are linked to schools’ data to examine the role of student- and school-level characteristics in influencing university marks. Schools’ socioeconomic status is found to have moderate impacts on university performance, with students from lower socioeconomic status schools faring better. Prior academic achievement, as proxied by ATAR scores, is found to be a strong determinant of university grades. School sector and resources are found to have negligible impacts on students’ academic performance at university. The results suggest that equity measures to increase university access for low SES students and those from lower-SES schools could be expanded without compromising academic standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian W. Li & A. Michael Dockery, 2015. "Does School Socio-economic Status Influence University Outcomes?," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 18(1), pages 75-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:ozl:journl:v:18:y:2015:i:1:p:75-94
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Card, David & Krueger, Alan B, 1992. "Does School Quality Matter? Returns to Education and the Characteristics of Public Schools in the United States," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(1), pages 1-40, February.
    2. Cardak, Buly A. & Vecci, Joe, 2013. "Catholic school effectiveness in Australia: A reassessment using selection on observed and unobserved variables," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 34-45.
    3. Ryan, Chris, 2013. "What is behind the decline in student achievement in Australia?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 226-239.
    4. Mahuteau, Stephane & Mavromaras, Kostas, 2014. "Student Scores in Public and Private Schools: Evidence from PISA 2009," IZA Discussion Papers 8471, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Brendan Houng & Moshe Justman, 2014. "NAPLAN Scores as Predictors of Access to Higher Education in Victoria," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2014n22, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    6. Buly A. Cardak & Chris Ryan, 2009. "Participation in Higher Education in Australia: Equity and Access," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 85(271), pages 433-448, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Edwards, Rebecca & Gibson, Rachael & Harmon, Colm & Schurer, Stefanie, 2022. "First-in-their-family students at university: Can non-cognitive skills compensate for social origin?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    2. Mahmut Özer & Hayri Eren Suna, 2022. "The Relationship between School Socioeconomic Composition and Academic Achievement in Turkiye," Journal of Economy Culture and Society, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 66(66), pages 17-27, December.
    3. Edwards, Rebecca & Gibson, Rachael & Harmon, Colm P. & Schurer, Stefanie, 2020. "First in Their Families at University: Can Non-cognitive Skills Compensate for Social Origin?," IZA Discussion Papers 13721, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Externality; Analysis of education; Education and inequality; Government policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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