School choice and perceived school quality

School choice programs–school vouchers, open enrollment, tuition tax credits and charter schools–reduce the cost of sending children to a school different than their assignment. Previous literature shows support for school choice is weaker in objectively high-performing school districts. We show that people’s opinions about school quality matter at least as much as objective measures like proficiency tests. We find support for school choice is lower when people think their assigned public school district is good (or even the typical public school district in the state); support for choice is higher when people think their nearest private school is good.