goal of maximizing the academic performance of the lowest ability students. Our assignment algorithm uses peer effects … estimates from the observational data. We find a negative and significant treatment effect for the students we intended to help …. We show that within our "optimal" peer groups, students self-selected into bifurcated sub-groups with social dynamics …

We examine the long-term impacts of California's state-based financial aid by tracking students' educational and labor … eligibility rules using GPA and family income cutoffs that are ex ante unknown to applicants. Aid eligibility increases …

I examine academic performance and college going for public school students affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita …. Students who are forced to switch schools due to the hurricanes experience sharp declines in test scores in the first year … gains are concentrated among students whose initial schools were in the lowest quintile of the test score distribution and …