Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
We pair variation stemming from volcanic eruptions with the census of Hawaii's public schools' student test scores to estimate the impact of PM2.5$$ P{M}_{2.5} $$ and SO2$$ S{O}_2 $$ on student performance. Increased particulate pollution decreases test scores. These results are concentrated among schools with the highest long‐term average levels of pollution. The effects of PM2.5$$ P{M}_{2.5} $$ are larger for the poorest pupils by a factor of at least three. We demonstrate that poor air quality disproportionately impacts the human capital accumulation of economically disadvantaged children.