Interdistrict mobility and charter schools in Arizona: Understanding the dynamics of public school choice

This paper investigates the mobility patterns of elementary students enrolled in Arizona’s traditional public school districts and charter schools. We address movement related to two forms of public school choice simultaneously: interdistrict choice and charter schools. Most student movement is interdistrict or between school districts. In Arizona, interdistrict mobility has played a greater role in creating and sustaining an educational market than charter schools. There is also a substantial amount of student movement from charter schools to school districts. Regression analyses suggested that the relationships between different types of student mobility and school characteristics varied across the two sectors. We also document regional differences in mobility patterns, which indicate that education markets vary considerably across and within local contexts.