The Effects of New York City's Small Schools of Choice on Postsecondary Education and Labor Market Outcomes

• In Event: Education Reform: An Ongoing Debate Toward Improving Educational Opportunities

Abstract

In a prior study, MDRC researchers found that Small Schools of Choice, a SIG-approved high school reform initiative, markedly and consistently increased high school graduation rates in New York City when it was implemented in 100+ high schools between 2002 and 2008. A four-year follow-up study found that the initiative increased students’ enrollment in postsecondary institutions, though it did not appear to have an effect on post-secondary degree attainment or earnings. In this paper, we follow these students 6 years beyond high school graduation to further examine the initiative’s effects on postsecondary education and earnings outcomes.

Authors

• Rebecca Unterman

• Miki Shih, MDRC