Researching Private vs Public Schools?

Mrs.Cooley2bee

I posted this question in the response to another question below - but I think it's getting lost.

Can you research private school "report cards" or standardized test scores anywhere?  I would really like to compare apples to apples, do private schools test the same way public schools do?  I would want to look at the same information and scoring for both sets of schools. Does that make sense?

I am in no way trying to start the private vs public debate.  I personally would like to look at districts I could possibly be living in and compare their private and public options.  I just have no idea how to go about doing it.

Thanks

jerseygirl81

I don't know for sure, but I can find out.

AllieSchmallie

My understanding is that private schools are not required to post their "report cards" or standardized test scores anywhere. I'm not sure whether or not they are required to take the same standardized tests that public schools do or not. Someone else might have more experience with that.

jerseygirl81

AllieSchmallie:

My understanding is that private schools are not required to post their "report cards" or standardized test scores anywhere. I'm not sure whether or not they are required to take the same standardized tests that public schools do or not. Someone else might have more experience with that.

I'm 99% sure that they aren't required to take the same standardized tests, but I know that some of the elect to do so, anyway.

Lyons_in_2007

jerseygirl81:

AllieSchmallie:

My understanding is that private schools are not required to post their "report cards" or standardized test scores anywhere. I'm not sure whether or not they are required to take the same standardized tests that public schools do or not. Someone else might have more experience with that.

I'm 99% sure that they aren't required to take the same standardized tests, but I know that some of the elect to do so, anyway.

They aren't, which is the BIGGEST advantage of a private school education (IMO).  I don't want my children's education to revolve around teaching to a test.  Ugh...don't get me started on NCLB again...   

ETA:  Let me add that (again IMO) standardized test scores and report cards don't mean much.  It's all a bunch of twisted/fudged statistics that tie back to the effed up way in which schools are funded.  Can you tell this stuff gets me fired up?

gandcnky

I teach in a private school, and I know that at least in KY, private schools do not take the same standardized tests as public schools, so you wouldn't be comparing apples to apples.  I know that's kind of frustrating, and I wish there was a way to do that.  Private schools don't have to post their results, either, although a good one will usually give generalities upon request.  One thing to keep in mind, though, is that since many private schools have smaller class sizes, their test scores might be misleading.  For example, we only have about 20 kids per grade at my Catholic grade school, and so one or two outliers in a class will completely skew the data, making the scores look a lot lower (or higher) than they would if the enrollment was higher.  I don't know if that helps you, but that's just what I know as a teacher.

gandcnky

Lyons_in_2007:

jerseygirl81:

AllieSchmallie:

My understanding is that private schools are not required to post their "report cards" or standardized test scores anywhere. I'm not sure whether or not they are required to take the same standardized tests that public schools do or not. Someone else might have more experience with that.

I'm 99% sure that they aren't required to take the same standardized tests, but I know that some of the elect to do so, anyway.

They aren't, which is the BIGGEST advantage of a private school education (IMO).  I don't want my children's education to revolve around teaching to a test.  Ugh...don't get me started on NCLB again...   

ETA:  Let me add that (again IMO) standardized test scores and report cards don't mean much.  It's all a bunch of twisted/fudged statistics that tie back to the effed up way in which schools are funded.  Can you tell this stuff gets me fired up?

I very much agree.  I know test scores are the only real data schools can provide to prove their worth, but they're really not the best measurement of a school's success, and they're also not always portrayed totally accurately.

teacherjess

When it comes to private grade and high schools, they are not required to post their test scores, and many do not publicize them. They are, however, given out if you ask. You can just call for an admissions rep and say (for instance, for a high school), "What are your passing rates for the Ohio Graduation Test in the five subject areas?" If they refuse to give them out, scratch that school OFF your lists. Both my private school and DH's private school will share OGT passing rates with anyone who asks, but no one in the area publishes them.

For public schools, you can use the Ohio Report Card system, which is actual data: https://ilrc.ode.state.oh.us/. DH and I also rely on greatschools.net, which is less data-driven but almost always on the mark (schools get a score from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, based on standardized test scores). 

In Dayton, all of the private Catholic high schools take the same standardized tests that the state of Ohio requires for public schools. I believe, but I'm not sure, that the Ohio Graduation Test is required for any school calling itself a high school. 

warriormomerin

I did two very large research projects on both of these subjects in graduate school. The first was a comparison of private/public schools as a whole, the 2nd was a research paper on standardized tests and whether or not they help or hurt education.

If nothing else, the sources I used for them might be of interest to you. Let me know if you are interested in reading them, although I probably won't be able to get them to you until later this month.