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Do Middle Schoolers Undermatch in High School Choice? Evidence from a Merit-Based School Choice Admission System. Policy Brief

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Title: Do Middle Schoolers Undermatch in High School Choice? Evidence from a Merit-Based School Choice Admission System. Policy Brief
Language: English
Authors: Jane Arnold Lincove, National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH)
Source: National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 2025.
Availability: National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 1555 Poydras Street Suite 700, New Orleans, LA 70112. Tel: 870-540-6576; e-mail: info@reachcentered.org; Web site: https://reachcentered.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305C180025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Descriptors: School Choice, High Schools, Selective Admission, Middle School Students, Access to Education, Urban Schools, Magnet Schools, Preferences, High Achievement, Academic Achievement, Gender Differences, Racial Differences
Geographic Terms: Maryland (Baltimore)
Abstract: School choice mechanisms are proposed as a remedy for inequalities created by the combination of residential segregation and geographically zoned school assignments, and a common alternative to geographically zoned schools is merit-based admissions to academically selective high schools. In this study, we investigate whether a similar form of undermatch occurs when middle schoolers apply to high schools in a citywide choice system. We focus our study in Baltimore City, where selective high school seats are allocated based on a single metric of middle school performance, and in this context we ask whether access to academically selective high schools is driven by student preferences or student performance.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678958
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: Do Middle Schoolers Undermatch in High School Choice? Evidence from a Merit-Based School Choice Admission System. Policy Brief
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jane+Arnold+Lincove%22">Jane Arnold Lincove</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22National+Center+for+Research+on+Education+Access+and+Choice+%28REACH%29%22">National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH)</searchLink>
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  Data: National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. 1555 Poydras Street Suite 700, New Orleans, LA 70112. Tel: 870-540-6576; e-mail: info@reachcentered.org; Web site: https://reachcentered.org/
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 7
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Choice%22">School Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Selective+Admission%22">Selective Admission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+Schools%22">Urban Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnet+Schools%22">Magnet Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preferences%22">Preferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Achievement%22">High Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racial+Differences%22">Racial Differences</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maryland+%28Baltimore%29%22">Maryland (Baltimore)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: School choice mechanisms are proposed as a remedy for inequalities created by the combination of residential segregation and geographically zoned school assignments, and a common alternative to geographically zoned schools is merit-based admissions to academically selective high schools. In this study, we investigate whether a similar form of undermatch occurs when middle schoolers apply to high schools in a citywide choice system. We focus our study in Baltimore City, where selective high school seats are allocated based on a single metric of middle school performance, and in this context we ask whether access to academically selective high schools is driven by student preferences or student performance.
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED678958
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678958
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 7
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Selective Admission
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnet Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preferences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Racial Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maryland (Baltimore)
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Do Middle Schoolers Undermatch in High School Choice? Evidence from a Merit-Based School Choice Admission System. Policy Brief
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            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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