Comparing Private Schools and Public Schools Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling

Title:	Comparing Private Schools and Public Schools Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling
Description:	This study compares mean 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics scores of public and private schools in 4th and 8th grades, statistically controlling for individual student characteristics (such as gender, race/ethnicity, disability status, identification as an English language learner) and school characteristics (such as school size, location, and the composition of the student body). In grades 4 and 8, using unadjusted mean scores, students in private schools scored significantly higher than students in public schools for both reading and mathematics. But when school means were adjusted in the HLM analysis, the average for public schools was significantly higher than the average for private schools for grade 4 mathematics and not significantly different for reading. At grade 8, the average for private schools was significantly higher than the average for public schools in reading but not significantly different for mathematics. Comparisons were also carried out between types of sectarian schools. In grade 4, Catholic and Lutheran schools were compared separately to public schools. For both reading and mathematics, the results were similar to those based on all private schools. In grade 8, Catholic, Lutheran, and Conservative Christian schools were each compared to public schools. For Catholic and Lutheran schools for both reading and mathematics, the results were again similar to those based on all private schools. For Conservative Christian schools, the average adjusted school mean in reading was not significantly different from that of public schools. In mathematics, the average adjusted school mean for Conservative Christian schools was significantly lower than that of public schools.
Online Availability:	Browse the Executive Summary of this report. Download, view and print the report as a pdf file. (696KB)
Cover Date:	July 2006
Web Release:	July 14, 2006
Print Release:	Currently only available online, print version forthcoming.
Publication #:	NCES 2006461 General Ordering Information
Center/Program:	NCES
Authors:	Henry Braun, Frank Jenkins, and Wendy Grigg
Type of Product:	Statistical Analysis Report
Survey/Program Areas:	National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Keywords:	Achievement (Student) NAEP Private Schools Progress in Education
Questions:	For questions about the content of this Statistical Analysis Report, please contact: William Tirre.