High School Employment, School Performance, andCollege Entry

The proportion of U.S. high school students working during the school year ranges from 23% in thefreshman year to 75% in the senior year. This study estimates how cumulative work histories duringthe high school years affect probability of dropout, high school academic performance, and theprobability of attending college. Variation in individual date of birth and in state truancy laws alongwith the strength of local demand for low-skill labor are used as instruments for endogenous workhours during the high school career. Working more hours during the academic year does not affecthigh school academic performance. However, increased high school work intensity raises thelikelihood of completing high school but lowers the probability of going to college. These results aresimilar for boys and girls, and so working during high school does not explain the widening gap incollege entry between men and women.[...]