School efficiency rankings in Minnesota

Abstract

This paper examines the difference between school level performance rankings for Minnesota public schools for the 2013-2014 school year based on Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment passage rate and econometrically estimated inefficiency. Inefficiency is estimated using Ordinary Least Squares and Stochastic Frontier Analysis. Results show a weak positive correlation between test score rankings and inefficiency rankings, although analysis of the best schools for each ranking show a large variation in which schools are the best. Correlations between OLS and SFA rankings are much stronger and near one. These findings indicate that controls matter when evaluating school performance.