| Title: |
Do Middle Schoolers Undermatch in High School Choice? Evidence from a Merit-Based School Choice Admission System. Policy Brief |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Jane Arnold Lincove; National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH) |
| Source: |
National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 2025. |
| Availability: |
National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 1555 Poydras Street Suite 700, New Orleans, LA 70112. Tel: 870-540-6576; e-mail: info@reachcentered.org; Web site: https://reachcentered.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
7 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: |
Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: |
R305C180025 |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
High Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools |
| Descriptors: |
School Choice; High Schools; Selective Admission; Middle School Students; Access to Education; Urban Schools; Magnet Schools; Preferences; High Achievement; Academic Achievement; Gender Differences; Racial Differences |
| Geographic Terms: |
Maryland (Baltimore) |
| Abstract: |
School choice mechanisms are proposed as a remedy for inequalities created by the combination of residential segregation and geographically zoned school assignments, and a common alternative to geographically zoned schools is merit-based admissions to academically selective high schools. In this study, we investigate whether a similar form of undermatch occurs when middle schoolers apply to high schools in a citywide choice system. We focus our study in Baltimore City, where selective high school seats are allocated based on a single metric of middle school performance, and in this context we ask whether access to academically selective high schools is driven by student preferences or student performance. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| IES Funded: |
Yes |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
ED678958 |
| Database: |
ERIC |