Effect of criminality on cognitive skills of elementary school students in São Paulo

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between violence and school proficiency in fourth and eighth grade students in São Paulo, Brazil. Specifically, we investigate the effect of community violence, regarding the following crimes: homicides, attempted homicides and body injury. Using crime data from Fundação Sistema Estadual de Análise de Dados (Seade) and proficiency from Prova Brasil, we show that school in more violent neighborhoods have worst educational results in 5th grade, even after controlling for several aspects that also affect proficiency. A 10% growth in homicides rates is related to a 0.12 points reduction in Math and Language proficiency in 5th grade (SAEB scale). We do not find any effect of injuries in proficiency in 5th grade. Quantile regression results points to stronger effects for students with high math proficiency and the opposite results for language. However, the quantile effects are small in both analysis. Finally, for 9th grade, we do not find effect of any crime type on school proficiency.