School grades based on standardized test scores

Abstract

In 1997, Florida passed legislation that created the School Recognition Program, which gives schools letter grades from “A” through “F.” Given the important impact of these school grades, it is essential to know if a school’s grade depends more on the intrinsic qualities of the school or on the qualities of the individual students who go to that school. Using a sample of 15,100 elementary students, our study is an attempt to determine this.