Work

School choice and residential commute times

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Using New York City Department of Education administrative data matched with transit information, we are able to better quantify commute time and path considerations as they relate to school choice programs. We find longer commutes from home markedly deter students from applying to even the most elite high schools. For the top public school, a student with a 20‐minute commute is 73% more likely to apply than one who lives 40 minute away. For two schools above the 99th percentile of performance, the differences are 232% and 138%. Finally, exam scores relate to how well students understand the admissions process.

Source: Real Estate Economics

DOI: 10.1111/1540-6229.70019

Authors: Lawrence Costa, J. J. Naddeo, Michael J. Seiler

Institutions: Capital One (United States), University of Michigan, William & Mary

Language: English

Topic: School Choice and Performance

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400