Does immigration induce ‘native flight’ from public schools into private schools?

Abstract

The paper tests whether native-born American families respond to inflows of immigrants by sending their children to private school. The analysis uses 1980 and 1990 Census data from 132 metropolitan areas. For primary school students, no significant relation between immigration and private school enrolment is found. For secondary schools, a significant link emerges. For every four immigrants who arrive in public high schools, it is estimated that one native student switches to a private school. White students account for most of this flight. Natives appear to respond mainly to immigrant children who speak a language other than English at home. 

Factors Influencing the State-Level Settlement Pattern of the Undocumented Immigrant Population in the United States

“…In particular, Mavisakalyan (2011, p. 397) investigated the effect on private school enrollment through the mechanism of public education outlays, finding that a growing immigrant share of the population raises enrollment in private schools, confirming similar conclusions by Betts and Fairlie (2003). Other studies have also focused on the issue of immigration and public education (Gerdes 2013;Justman 2000, 2002).…”

The effect of immigration on the school performance of natives: Cross country evidence using PISA test scores

“…While Hoxby suggests that immigrant students crowd minority natives out of universities and colleges by competing for scarce remedial resources, Borjas, 2004, finds that the increasing number of immigrant students in the US crowds white American-native males out of universities, especially in elite institutions. Betts and Fairlie, 2003, find that American native students fly towards private secondary schools in response to the influx of immigrants into public institutions 3 . At least two reasons might explain this flight towards private fee-based schools.…”

Are Immigrants in Favour of Immigration? Evidence from England and Wales

“…If immigration places a strain on public services, such as education (see, for example, Betts & Fairlie, 2003;Geay, McNally & Telhaj, 2013;Ohinata & van Ours, 2013;or Schneeweis 2013), public safety (for example, Bell, Fasani, and Machin 2013), health care or welfare, users of these services, regardless of their origin, might oppose further immigration.…”