Towering Intellects? Sizing up the relationship between height and academic success
Stephanie Coffey1, Amy Ellen Schwartz2
1Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102, USA.
Economics and Human Biology
|April 9, 2025
Summary
Taller students tend to achieve better academic outcomes. This study found a significant height premium in English Language Arts (ELA) and math test scores for both boys and girls in New York City schools.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Human Biology
- Sociology
Background:
- Existing research links taller stature to higher adult earnings.
- Adult labor market success may be influenced by earlier academic performance.
- The relationship between physical size and academic achievement requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between student height and academic achievement.
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms linking height and school performance.
- To determine if absolute and relative height influence academic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized unique student-level longitudinal data from New York City (NYC).
- Employed regression analysis linking standardized test scores to height (z-score).
- Controlled for observable student characteristics in the analysis.
Main Results:
- A positive and statistically significant height gradient was observed for both boys and girls in math and English Language Arts (ELA).
- A one standard deviation increase in height correlated with a 0.03-0.04 standard deviation increase in test scores.
- The tallest 2.5% of students performed significantly better than the shortest 2.5%, indicating a meaningful achievement gap.
Conclusions:
- An academic height premium exists, benefiting both absolute and relative height.
- Height is a factor associated with academic achievement, even after controlling for other variables.
- Findings suggest that physical stature may play a role in educational attainment.
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