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Don't Hold Back? The Effect of Grade Retention on Student Achievement

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  • Ron Diris

    (Department of Economics Maastricht University 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Abstract
This study analyzes the effect of age-based retention on school achievement at different stages of education. I estimate an instrumental variable model, using the predicted probability of retention given month of birth as an instrument, while simultaneously accounting for the effect of month of birth on maturity at the time of testing. The analysis further assesses heterogeneity in retention effects by achievement, by background characteristics, and by type of skill. Using international data from multiple waves of the PISA international assessment test, I find that grade retention in primary school harms student achievement across the distribution, while delayed school entry can produce positive results for those at the lower end. The identified local average treatment effect indicates that letting students retain in primary school because of a low relative age is harmful for their future school achievement.

Suggested Citation

  • Ron Diris, 2017. "Don't Hold Back? The Effect of Grade Retention on Student Achievement," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 12(3), pages 312-341, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:12:y:2017:i:3:p:312-341
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philip Babcock & Kelly Bedard, 2011. "The Wages of Failure: New Evidence on School Retention and Long-Run Outcomes," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 6(3), pages 293-322, July.
    2. J. Ignacio García-Pérez & Marisa Hidalgo-Hidalgo & J. Antonio Robles-Zurita, 2011. "Does grade retention affect achievement? Some evidence from PISA," Working Papers 11.09, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Victoria Nevin Locke & P. Johnelle Sparks, 2019. "Who Gets Held Back? An Analysis of Grade Retention Using Stratified Frailty Models," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 38(5), pages 695-731, October.
    3. Alar Urruticoechea & Andrés Oliveri & Elena Vernazza & Marta Giménez-Dasí & Rosario Martínez-Arias & Javier Martín-Babarro, 2021. "The Relative Age Effects in Educational Development: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Wessling, Katarina & van der Velden, Rolf, 2021. "Flexibility in educational systems - Concept, indicators, and directions for future research," Research Memorandum 006, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).

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