ACT participation is positively selected across schools: higher-achieving schools have higher participation rates¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2007 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? At higher-achieving schools, ACT participation rates are higher, indicating positive selection into test taking across schools. → Melissa Clark 2007

Evidence¶

Melissa Clark 2007¶

Melissa Clark, Jesse Rothstein, Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach. (2007). Selection Bias in College Admissions Test Scores. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University, Education Research Section. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/selection-bias-in-college-admissions-test-scores

q2 · i? · causal · r?

Quasi-experimental estimates from an Illinois policy change making the ACT a graduation requirement. The authors report "substantial positive selection into test participation both across and within schools," with higher participation at higher-achieving schools. No effect size is printed.

"Estimates based on the Illinois policy change indicate substantial positive selection into test participation both across and within schools—at higher-achieving schools, participation rates are higher; within schools, higher-achieving students are more likely to take the test."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Within schools, higher-achieving students are more likely to take the ACT — related
• ACT scores rose even with more test takers, growing most in Era 3 in selective enrollment and racially integrated schools — related
• Graduates' academic qualifications improved alongside graduation rates, with ACT scores rising from 16.7 to 18.6 between 2003 and 2014 — related