Despite evidence showing otherwise, it remains conventional wisdom in many parts of the education world that private schools do a better job of educating students, with superior standardized test scores. It is one of the claims that some school-choice supporters make in arguing that the public should pay for private school education.
The only problem: It isn’t true, a study confirms.
University of Virginia researchers who looked at data from more than 1,000 students found that all of the advantages supposedly conferred by private education evaporate when socio-demographic characteristics are factored in.
There was also no evidence found to suggest low-income children or children enrolled in urban schools benefit more from private school enrollment.