Spillover effects of specialized high schools

Specialized high schools are an increasingly popular way to prepare young adults for postsecondary experiences and expand school choice. While much literature examines charter school spillover effects and the effects of specialized schools on the students who attend them, little is known about the spillover effects of specialized high schools on traditional public schools (TPS). Using an event study design, we show that one type of specialized high school, North Carolina’s Cooperative Innovative High Schools, initially attracted students who were higher achieving and more likely to be white than TPS students, but these specialized schools became more representative of the district population over time. On average, the opening of specialized schools had a mix of null and positive spillover effects on TPS student achievement. While there is some evidence of negative spillovers from the first schools that opened, the effects become more positive over time. •Specialized high schools are a popular way to expand school choice.•We study North Carolina’s Cooperative Innovative High Schools in an event study.•These schools disproportionately enrolled white and high achieving students.•The specialized schools became more representative of school districts over time.•Recently opened specialized schools had positive spillovers on student achievement.