The Impact of School Quality on Postsecondary Success: Evidence in the Era of Common Core; Scott Carrell (University of California, Davis)

Abstract

This paper explores high school quality in California after the transition to Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Using a longitudinal panel of students’ standardized test scores, we estimate high school test score value added in English and mathematics for the 2015-2017 cohorts of 11th grade students. We then link these student-level data to college enrollment records to estimate college enrollment value added. We decompose the college enrollment value added into two components: the persistence of test score value added and non-test score factors (e.g., college counseling services) that influence college enrollment. Results show that there is substantial variation in school quality as measured by both test scores and college enrollment. A one-standard deviation increase in school quality is associated with a 0.15 standard deviation increase in standardized test scores and an 8-percentage point increase college enrollment. Importantly, our results show that both the persistence in test score value added and other non-test score factors within a school are important determinants of college-going value added.