Working Paper: NBER ID: w28790
Authors: Eric Brunner; Shaun Dougherty; Stephen L. Ross
Abstract: We examine the effect of attending stand-alone technical high schools on student short- and long-term outcomes using a regression discontinuity design. Male students are 10 percentage points more likely to graduate from high school and have half a semester less time enrolled in college, although effects on college fade-out. Male students have 32% higher quarterly earnings. Earnings effects may in part reflect general skills: male students have higher attendance rates and test scores, and industry fixed effects explain less than 1/3rd of earnings gains. We find little evidence that attending a technical high school affects the outcomes of female students.
Keywords: Career and Technical Education; High School Graduation; Earnings
JEL Codes: I21; I26; J16
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Increased likelihood of high school graduation (I21) | Increased total earnings post-high school (I26) |
| Attending standalone technical high schools (I23) | Insignificant effects for female students (I24) |
| Attending standalone technical high schools (I23) | Increased likelihood of high school graduation (I21) |
| Attending standalone technical high schools (I23) | Increased quarterly earnings (C22) |
| Attending standalone technical high schools (I23) | Increased total earnings post-high school (I26) |
| Attending standalone technical high schools (I23) | Improved educational outcomes for male students (I24) |