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School Quality and the Development of Cognitive Skills between Age Four and Six

Author

Listed:
  • Borghans, Lex

    (Maastricht University)

  • Golsteyn, Bart H.H.

    (Maastricht University)

  • Zölitz, Ulf

    (University of Zurich)

Abstract

This paper studies the extent to which young children develop their cognitive ability in high and low quality schools. We use a representative panel data set containing cognitive test scores of 4-6 year olds in Dutch schools. School quality is measured by the school's average achievement test score at age 12. Our results indicate that children in high-quality schools develop their skills substantially faster than those in low-quality schools. The results remain robust to the inclusion of initial ability, parental background, and neighborhood controls. Moreover, using proximity to higher-achieving schools as an instrument for school choice corroborates the results. The robustness of the results points toward a causal interpretation, although it is not possible to erase all doubt about unobserved confounding factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Borghans, Lex & Golsteyn, Bart H.H. & Zölitz, Ulf, 2015. "School Quality and the Development of Cognitive Skills between Age Four and Six," IZA Discussion Papers 9200, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9200
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    Cited by:

    1. Katrina M. Walsemann & Calley E. Fisk & Mateo P. Farina & Emily Abbruzzi & Jennifer A. Ailshire, 2023. "Race, gender, and cohort differences in the educational experiences of Black and White Americans," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(6), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Bart H. H. Golsteyn & Stefa Hirsch, 2019. "Are estimates of intergenerational mobility biased by non-response? Evidence from the Netherlands," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 52(1), pages 29-63, January.
    3. Deepmala Yadav & Suma Singh, 2020. "Status of Women Education in India," Shanlax International Journal of Economics, Shanlax Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 28-35, December.
    4. Walsemann, Katrina M. & Hair, Nicole L. & Farina, Mateo P. & Tyagi, Pallavi & Jackson, Heide & Ailshire, Jennifer A., 2023. "State-level desegregation in the U.S. South and mid-life cognitive function among Black and White adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    5. Borghans, By Lex & Diris, Ron & Smits, Wendy & de Vries, Jannes, 2020. "Should we sort it out later? The effect of tracking age on long-run outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    child development; cognitive skills; school quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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