Estimating Causal Impacts of Racially Segregated Classrooms on Eighth-Grade Math, Science, and Reading Performance

• In Event: The Causes and Consequences of School and Neighborhood Segregation

Abstract

Despite the continuing efforts of policy makers and educational leadership to desegregate schools, racial segregation in the K-12 school system remains prevalent. This study capitalizes on a nationally representative dataset of White, Black, Hispanic, Asian eighth graders across the US, and estimates the causal impacts of exposure to white and same-race population at home and in classrooms on students’ academic achievement. The preliminary findings suggest racially segregation patterns (Proportion of white and same race neighbors and classmates) at home and classrooms have differential effects by student racial groups. Further analysis using propensity score weighting approach will strengthen the evidence of the causal impacts of racial segregation and help identify the critical conditions of school racial segregation for policies to target.

Author

• Ha Yeon Kim, New York University