Catholic and Public Schools Compared: Examining Achievement Growth in an Urban Center

Abstract

Catholic school achievement studies often use national data to consider how Catholic and public school students compare. Catholic school governance resides at the school level and achievement comparisons likely vary by city. Catholic school research from the 1980s and 1990s suggested a Catholic school advantage, but few studies have sought to update this literature due to a lack of comparable data. We use standardized assessment data from the early 2000s to provide a citywide, point-in-time comparison of student achievement in math and reading in Catholic and public elementary schools. Matching methods allow us to measure differences, comparing similar students in similar schools, and we find no consistent differences during this period.

Keywords:

• academic achievement
• sector differences
• Catholic schools
• elementary schools

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julie W. Dallavis

Julie W. Dallavis, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame. [email protected]

Stephen M. Ponisciak

Stephen M. Ponisciak, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist in the Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame. [email protected]