Differential Peer Effects, Student Achievement, and Student Absenteeism: Evidence from a Large Scale Randomized Experiment

Using data from a well-executed randomized experiment, we examine the effects of gender composition and peer achievement on high school students' outcomes in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Our results show that a higher proportion of female peers in the classroom improves girls' math test scores only in less advanced courses. For male students, the estimated gender peer effects are positive, but less precisely estimated. We also find no effect of average classroom achievement on female math test scores. Males, on the other hand, seem to benefit from a higher achieving classroom. We propose mechanisms relating to lower gender stereotype influences and gender-specific attitudes towards competition as potential expla- nations for our peer effects findings. Finally, it appears that a higher proportion of female students in the classroom decreases student absenteeism among male students without any impact on female attendance.