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Research ArticleArticle

Flourish or Fail? The Risky Reward of Elite High School Admission in Mexico City

Andrew Dustan, Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet
Published online before print August 17, 2016, 0215-6974R1; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.52.3.0215-6974R1
Andrew Dustan
Andrew Dustan is an assistant professor of economics at Vanderbilt University. Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet are professors of agricultural and resource economics at the University of California at Berkeley.
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Alain de Janvry
Andrew Dustan is an assistant professor of economics at Vanderbilt University. Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet are professors of agricultural and resource economics at the University of California at Berkeley.
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Elisabeth Sadoulet
Andrew Dustan is an assistant professor of economics at Vanderbilt University. Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet are professors of agricultural and resource economics at the University of California at Berkeley.
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Abstract

Admission to an elite school imposes substantial risks on many students while offering modest academic benefits relative to admission in their most preferred non-elite school. Using variation in school assignment generated by the allocation mechanism, we find that admission to a system of elite public high schools in Mexico City increases the probability of high school dropout by 9.4 percentage points. Students with weaker middle school grades and whose commutes are lengthened by elite admission experience a larger rise in dropout probability. On the other hand, elite admission raises end-of-high school math test scores for the marginal admittee, even when accounting for potential bias due to admission-induced dropout.

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Flourish or Fail? The Risky Reward of Elite High School Admission in Mexico City
Andrew Dustan, Alain de Janvry, Elisabeth Sadoulet
Journal of Human Resources Aug 2016, 0215-6974R1; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.52.3.0215-6974R1

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Flourish or Fail? The Risky Reward of Elite High School Admission in Mexico City
Andrew Dustan, Alain de Janvry, Elisabeth Sadoulet
Journal of Human Resources Aug 2016, 0215-6974R1; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.52.3.0215-6974R1
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