How Do Students Value an Elite Education? Evidence from NYC Specialized High Schools
Revise & resubmit at Real Estate Economics
Current version, with JJ Naddeo and Michael Seiler
Older versions, with JJ Naddeo
FHFA Working Paper, Video, and Blog
Abstract: Are students willing to brave long commutes for access to good schools? Using New York City Department of Education administrative data matched with Google transit directions, we find that longer commutes from home markedly deter students from applying to even the most elite high schools. For the top public school in New York State, a student with a 20 minute commute is 73% more likely to apply than one who lives 40 minutes away. For two other schools above the 99th percentile of performance, the differences are 232% and 138%. We also find that eighth grade exam scores relate to how well students understand the admissions process.