TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Schwerdt, Guido
AU  - West, Martin R.
        TI  - The Impact of Alternative Grade Configurations on Student Outcomes through Middle and High School
        PY  - 2011/Dec/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 6208
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp6208
        AB  - We use statewide administrative data from Florida to estimate the impact of attending public schools with different grade configurations on student achievement through grade 10. Based on an instrumental variable estimation strategy, we find that students moving from elementary to middle school suffer a sharp drop in student achievement in the transition year. These achievement drops persist through grade 10. We also find that middle school entry increases student absences and is associated with higher grade 10 dropout rates. Transitions to high school in grade nine cause a smaller one-time drop in achievement but do not alter students' performance trajectories.
        KW  - high schools
KW  - grade configuration
KW  - public schools
KW  - educational production
KW  - middle schools
        ER  -