School Choice in New Haven, CT

How does it work?

• Students submit a ranked list of schools to the centralized institution.
• The institution uses some computer algorithm called a school choice mechanism to assign students to schools.
• The mechanism makes assignments using priority groups and random lottery numbers in order to break ties.
• Priority groups usually depend on things like the neighborhood families live in or whether you they a sibling at the school to which they are applying to.

Which details matter for families?

• Some districts use mechanisms where the goal is to make it so that families' best strategy is to simply write down the schools they like in order.
  • Boston, New York, Denver
• Other districts use mechanisms where families' best strategy depends on knowing how hard it is to get into different schools.
  • Charlotte, Barcelona, Beijing
• Which one is better for a district depend on what schools families like (preferences) and how much families know about school choice (beliefs)
• This is why this project is about measuring and understanding preferences and beliefs