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Breaking the Barriers to Higher Education: The Long-Term Benefits of a Boarding School for Disadvantaged Students

Author

Listed:
  • Luc Behaghel

    (INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

  • Clément de Chaisemartin

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Marc Gurgand

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Département de Sciences sociales ENS-PSL - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

Abstract

Intergenerational mobility in France is limited. "Boarding Schools of Excellence" support disadvantaged adolescents through structured environments and improved learning conditions. Using a randomized controlled trial, this paper estimates the long-term effects of one such school. It halves high-school dropout rates and increases higher-education graduation by 60%. These large impacts, achieved during adolescence, are comparable to those of celebrated early-childhood programs. Effects are especially strong for minority students (those not speaking only French at home). For them, the school boosts test scores and self-esteem in the short run. Each dimension can account for about a third of minorities' long-term impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Luc Behaghel & Clément de Chaisemartin & Marc Gurgand, 2026. "Breaking the Barriers to Higher Education: The Long-Term Benefits of a Boarding School for Disadvantaged Students," PSE Working Papers hal-05625188, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:psewpa:hal-05625188
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-05625188v1
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