Tracking and specialization of high schools

We analyze the impact of choosing an elite school on high school graduation in an early tracking system in Flanders (Belgium). Elite schools offer only an academic track, while most other schools offer multiple tracks. On average, students experience a 3.3 percentage point increase in the likelihood of obtaining a degree. We find that the effects are heterogeneous. On average, students who self-select into elite schools do not experience an effect, while students who do not choose an elite school would experience positive effects. Our results can be explained by different tracking decisions in both types of schools