Researchers have found a significant link between height and academic achievement in students, with taller students performing slightly better on standardized tests than their shorter peers. A large dataset from New York City public schools showed that each standard deviation increase in height was associated with modestly higher scores in both English Language Arts and math across grades 3 through 8.
The study aimed to explore why taller individuals often earn higher wages in adulthood, a pattern well-documented in prior research. The researchers used a large sample of students from New York City public schools, which included longitudinal data on student height measurements, standardized test scores, and demographic characteristics.
The findings showed that the tallest 2.5% of boys and girls performed around 0.18 to 0.19 standard deviations better in English compared to the shortest 2.5%. The relationship between height and achievement remained robust even when controlling for obesity status and family background. However, the researchers acknowledge limitations, including their inability to directly measure early childhood conditions that contribute to both height and academic performance.
The study’s lead author suggests that social perceptions tied to being taller than peers might play a small role in academic performance, particularly in language-related subjects. The researchers are interested in exploring how physical characteristics shape the way kids experience school and plan to investigate this further.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/taller-students-tend-to-perform-slightly-better-in-school-new-research-finds