Is There a Magnet School Effect? Using Meta-Analysis to Explore Variation in Magnet School Success

• In Event: 26.046 - Magnets, Open Enrollment, and School Closures

Abstract

Magnet schools are one of the largest sectors of choice schools in the United States. In this study, we explore whether there is heterogeneity in magnet school effects on student achievement by examining the effectiveness of 24 newly-formed magnet schools in five school districts across four states. We used a two-step analysis: First, separate magnet school effects were estimated using a propensity score matched regression approach to address selection bias. Second, the magnet effects were synthesized across schools using a multi-level random-effects meta-analytic framework. Results indicate that there is significant variation in magnet school effects on student outcomes, with some magnet schools showing positive effects, and others negative effects. This variation can be explained by program implementation and magnet support.

Authors

• Jia Wang, University of California - Los Angeles

• Jonathan Schweig, The RAND Corporation

• Joan L. Herman, University of California - Los Angeles