Table 2

Difference-and-Differences Estimates in Academic Performance and Plans for the Future - Twelfth Graders

Time Period1976–88
(1)		1989–99
(2)		Change over Time (2) – (1)
(3)		2000–2009
(4)		Change over Time (4) – (2)
(5)		Change over Time (4) – (1)
(6)
A: Average grades
Girls3.004
(0.002)		3.106
(0.002)		0.102
(0.003)		3.218
(0.003)		0.112
(0.003)		0.214
(0.003)
Boys2.804
(0.002)		2.907
(0.002)		0.103
(0.003)		3.030
(0.003)		0.123
(0.004)		0.225
(0.003)
Difference0.200
(0.003)		0.199
(0.003)		−0.001
(0.004)		0.189
(0.004)		−0.010
(0.005)		−0.011
(0.005)
B: Proportion with A grade
Girls0.100
(0.001)		0.143
(0.004)		0.043
(0.001)		0.192
(0.004)		0.048
(0.002)		0.091
(0.002)
Boys0.069
(0.001)		0.099
(0.001)		0.030
(0.001)		0.137
(0.001)		0.038
(0.002)		0.068
(0.001)
Difference0.032
(0.002)		0.044
(0.002)		0.012
(0.002)		0.054
(0.003)		0.011
(0.003)		0.023
(0.002)
C: Proportion definitely will attend graduate or professional school3
Girls0.101
(0.001)		0.205
(0.001)		0.104
(0.002)		0.249
(0.002)		0.044
(0.002)		0.147
(0.002)
Boys0.099
(0.001)		0.150
(0.001)		0.051
(0.002)		0.168
(0.001)		0.018
(0.002)		0.069
(0.002)
Difference0.003
(0.002)		0.055
(0.002)		0.053
(0.002)		0.081
(0.003)		0.026
(0.003)		0.078
(0.002)
Number of observations207,152160,403118,173

  • Notes: Self-reported grades in nine categories (D, C−, C, C+, B−, B, B+, A−, A) are translated into the numbers 1, 1.7, 2, 2.3, 2.7, 3, 3.3, 3.7, and 4 following standard institutional practice.

  • a The numbers for other post-secondary choices are reported in Table 3.