This paper examines how school choice in Chile is impacted by the availability of information on school quality. It finds that while parents claim to prioritize quality, in practice they often choose schools based on proximity. By analyzing a natural experiment where test score information was sometimes public and sometimes not, the paper shows that when given information, parents make choices more in line with school quality rather than just distance. The results suggest that more transparent information can help parents make better-informed decisions about school choice.

1. School Choice and Information Rómulo A. Chumacero Daniel Gómez Ricardo D. Paredes

7. How things really are (Distance)

8. How things really are (Distance and age)

9. How things really are (Attending the nearest school)

10. Elite voucher schools (where they are)

11. Elite voucher schools (where the students live)

12. How things really are (Quality)

13. How things really are (Competition: Schools in 2 kms radius)

18. Probability of choosing nearest school

20. School Choice and Information Rómulo A. Chumacero Daniel Gómez Ricardo D. Paredes