Do charter schools affect property values?

Abstract

Taxpayers are often concerned that introducing a charter school in their neighborhood will decrease their property values. We test this proposition by using three methods. We test the size and significance of the distance from a charter school with respect to property values; whether the intervention of a charter school changes the growth rate of property values; and whether the distance from a charter school has a different impact than the distance from a public school in similar neighborhoods. For the most part, we find little evidence that the existence of a charter school affects property values. © Southern Regional Science Association 2011.