Why do students switch schools? Admission lotteries and other drivers of student mobility

Series

Research Master Defense
Speaker

Tina Tozsos

Location

Rotterdam
Date and time

July 15, 2024
12:30 - 14:00

This study investigates school switching dynamics in Amsterdam, where approximately 25% of students switch schools during secondary school. Using extensive administrative data, we track students from initial applications until finishing secondary school in order to distinguish various drivers of student mobility. Many switches correspond to changes in students’ circumstances, such as residential moves or grade retention, but the majority of switches are best explained by students learning about their preferences over time. While it is difficult to accurately predict which students are the most likely to switch schools, simulations show that if students make more informed decisions about their initial preference lists, the welfare of both switchers and stayers would improve, both via reducing switching costs and spillover effects and by improving the quality of initial school assignments.