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Early School Exposure, Test Scores, and Noncognitive Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Cornelissen

    (Department of Economics, University of York, and Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM))

  • Christian Dustmann

    (Department of Economics, University College London and CReAM)

Abstract

We estimate the effects of receiving additional schooling before age 5 on cognitive and noncognitive outcomes, exploiting unique school entry rules in England that cause variation in the age at school entry and the effective length of the first school year, and combining survey data with administrative school records up to 6 years after exposure. We find significant effects on both cognitive and noncognitive outcomes at ages 5 and 7, particularly so for boys with a disadvantaged parental background. At age 11, effects on cognitive outcomes have disappeared, while there is still evidence for effects on noncognitive outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Cornelissen & Christian Dustmann, 2019. "Early School Exposure, Test Scores, and Noncognitive Outcomes," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 1903, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    • Handle: RePEc:crm:wpaper:1903
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    Cited by:

    1. Ando, Michihito & Mori, Hiroaki & Yamaguchi, Shintaro, 2025. "Universal early childhood education and adolescent risky behavior," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    2. Jo Blanden & Matthias Doepke & Jan Stuhler, 2022. "Education inequality," CEP Discussion Papers dp1849, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Gordon B Dahl & Christina Felfe & Paul Frijters & Helmut Rainer, 2022. "Caught between Cultures: Unintended Consequences of Improving Opportunity for Immigrant Girls," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(5), pages 2491-2528.
    4. Breitkopf, Laura & Chowdhury, Shyamal K. & Priyam, Shambhavi & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah & Sutter, Matthias, 2020. "Do economic preferences of children predict behavior?," DICE Discussion Papers 342, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    5. Ollikainen, Jani-Petteri & Pekkarinen, Tuomas & Uusitalo, Roope & Virtanen, Hanna, 2024. "Effect of secondary education on cognitive and non-cognitive skills," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Christopher Belfield & Imran Rasul, 2020. "Cognitive and Non‐Cognitive Impacts of High‐Ability Peers in Early Years," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(1), pages 65-100, March.
    7. Zhang, Haifeng & Zang, Lijun & Mao, Mingzhi & Guo, Jiqiang & Wang, Chunchao, 2023. "The externalities of preschool attendees in middle school classes," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Zhao, Yuejun & Markussen, Simen & Røed, Knut, 2024. "School Starting Age and the Social Gradient in Educational Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 16851, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Valentina Sontheim, 2025. "Relative School Starting Age and Educational Inequality," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0244, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    10. Jo Blanden & Emilia Del Bono & Kirstine Hansen & Birgitta Rabe, 2022. "Quantity and quality of childcare and children’s educational outcomes," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(2), pages 785-828, April.
    11. Alessandra Cassar & Alejandrina Cristia & Pauline Grosjean & Sarah Walker, 2022. "It Makes a Village: Allomaternal Care and Prosociality," Discussion Papers 2022-06, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
    12. Zhang, Junsen & Zhou, Kang, 2023. "Quota removal, destination-specific export shocks, and skill acquisition in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    13. Barbara Biasi & David Deming & Petra Moser, 2020. "Education and Innovation," NBER Chapters, in: The Role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth, pages 537-551, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Del Boca Daniela & Monfardini Chiara & See Sarah Grace, 2023. "Early Childhood Education Attendance and Students’ Later Outcomes in Europe," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 23(4), pages 1081-1136, October.
    15. Ryu, Hanbyul & Helfand, Steven M. & Moreira, Roni Barbosa, 2020. "Starting early and staying longer: The effects of a Brazilian primary schooling reform on student performance," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    16. Cornelius A. Rietveld, 2024. "Heritability and public policy reconsidered, again," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 24-012/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    17. Chen, Yuanyuan & Feng, Shuaizhang & Zhang, Jing & Zhuo, Yi, 2024. "Gender differences in adolescents’ noncognitive skill development during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 411-434.
    18. Christian Aßmann & Jean-Christoph Gaasch & Doris Stingl, 2023. "A Bayesian Approach Towards Missing Covariate Data in Multilevel Latent Regression Models," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 88(4), pages 1495-1528, December.
    19. Rubens Lopes Pereira Silva & Raul Silveira Neto & Diego Firmino Costa Silva, 2025. "The longer the daily commute to school, the lower the student attendance: evidence from Brazil," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 74(3), pages 1-27, September.
    20. Nicolai T. Borgen & Lars J. Kirkebøen & Andreas Kotsadam & Oddbjørn Raaum, 2022. "Do funds for more teachers improve student outcomes?," Discussion Papers 982, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    21. Nicodemo, Catia & Nicoletti, Cheti & Vidiella-Martin, Joaquim, 2024. "Starting School and ADHD: When Is It Time to Fly the Nest?," IZA Discussion Papers 17091, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    22. repec:osf:socarx:rnkgs_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    23. Zhang, Lin, 2022. "Age matters for girls: School entry age and female graduate education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    24. Goncalo Lima & Luis Catela Nunes & Ana Balcao Reis & Maria do Carmo Seabra, 2022. "No country for young kids? The effects of school starting age throughout childhood and beyond," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp639, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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