The Effects of Class Size on Student Achievement: New Evidence from Population Variation

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2000
Volume: 115
Issue: 4
Pages: 1239-1285

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

I identify the effects of class size on student achievement using longitudinal variation in the population associated with each grade in 649 elementary schools. I use variation in class size driven by idiosyncratic variation in the population. I also use discrete jumps in class size that occur when a small change in enrollment triggers a maximum or minimum class size rule. The estimates indicate that class size does not have a statistically significant effect on student achievement. I rule out even modest effects (2 to 4 percent of a standard deviation in scores for a 10 percent reduction in class size).

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:115:y:2000:i:4:p:1239-1285.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-02-02