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How Would One Extra Year of High School Affect Academic Performance in University? Evidence from an Educational Policy Change

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  • Harry Krashinsky

Abstract

This paper uses a unique policy change in Ontario, Canada, to provide direct evidence on how reducing the length of high school would impact student performance in university. After a five‐year educational program was eliminated from Ontario high schools and replaced with a four‐year program, two graduating cohorts with different amounts of high school education simultaneously entered university. The results demonstrate that students who receive one less year of high school education perform significantly worse than their counterparts in all subjects, even after the age difference between the cohorts is accounted for. Comment est‐ce qu'une année additionnelle au secondaire affecte la performance scolaire à l'université? Résultats d'un changement de politique éducationnelle. Ce mémoire utilise un changement particulier de politique en Ontario (Canada) pour produire directement des renseignements sur l'impact de la réduction du temps passé au secondaire sur la performance des étudiants à l'université. Après l'élimination d'un programme de cinq ans et son remplacement par un programme de quatre ans dans les écoles secondaires de l'Ontario, deux cohortes de diplômés avec un bagage scolaire différent sont entrées à l'université en même temps. Les résultats montrent que les étudiants qui ont reçu un an de moins d'éducation au secondaire ont performé moins bien et de manière significative que leurs collègues dans tous les sujets, même après avoir pris en compte la différence d'âge entre les cohortes.

Suggested Citation

  • Harry Krashinsky, 2014. "How Would One Extra Year of High School Affect Academic Performance in University? Evidence from an Educational Policy Change," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(1), pages 70-97, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:47:y:2014:i:1:p:70-97
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12066
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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