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Article Going To Private School Won’t Make A Difference To Your Kid’s Academic Scores

Sally Larsen, University of New England and Alexander Forbes, University of New England
February 21, 2022

84 Comments

In Australia, around 30% of primary and 40% of secondary school children attend a private, or independent, school. School fees vary widely, depending on the type of private school and the different sectors that govern them. Catholic schools generally cost less than independent schools where families can pay fees of more than $40,000 per year.

Despite the term “independent school”, all schools in Australia receive government funding. On average, Catholic schools receive around 75% and independent schools around 45% of their funding from state and federal governments.

Research shows parents believe private schools will provide a better education for their children, and better set them up for success in life. But the evidence on whether this perception is correct is not conclusive.

What does the research say about academic scores?

Our recent study showed NAPLAN scores of children who attended private schools were no different to those in public schools, after accounting for socioeconomic background.

These findings are in line with other research, both in Australia and internationally, which shows family background is related both to the likelihood of attending a private school and to academic achievement.

While there may appear to be differences in the academic achievement of students in private schools, these tend to disappear once socioeconomic background is taken into account.

An analysis of 68 education systems (mainly countries, but some countries only include regions which are known as “education systems”) participating in the 2018 Programme for International Assessment (PISA) tests showed attendance at private schools was not consistently related to higher test performance.

The OECD report says:

On average across OECD countries and in 40 education systems, students in private schools […] scored higher in reading than students in public schools ([…] before accounting for socio-economic profile)[…] However, after accounting for students’ and schools’ socio-economic profile, reading scores were higher in public schools than in private schools […]

Do private schools improve student achievement over time?

Another argument used to support Australia’s growing private school sector is the idea private schools actually add value to a child’s education. This means attending a private school should boost students’ learning trajectories over and above what they might have achieved in a public school.

Our research is the first to examine whether students differ in learning trajectories across the four NAPLAN test years (3, 5, 7 and 9) depending on the school type they attended.

We compared the NAPLAN scores of students who attended a public school, a private school and those who attended a public school in years 3 and 5 and then a private school in years 7 and 9. The students in the latter group scored highest in reading and numeracy tests in each of the four NAPLAN test years.

This group outperformed students who attended private schools at all years, and students who attended public schools at all years. But there was no evidence that making the switch to a private school added to students’ learning growth.

These high-performing students were already achieving the highest results in public school before they left for private school in year 7.

This suggests private schools may be be enrolling the highest achievers from public primary schools.

Other analyses in our paper showed that once socioeconomic background of these students was taken into account, apparent achievement differences between school sectors were no longer present.

The other interesting point is that there were no differences in achievement trajectories between the groups. So, making the switch to private schools in year 7 did not affect the gains students were making in NAPLAN over time. Students in public schools made just as much progress as their peers who attended private schools.

This undermines claims private schools add value to students’ academic growth.

What about other private school benefits?

Some Australian research has shown students who attend private schools are more likely to complete school and attend university, and tend to attain higher rankings in university entrance exams. Indeed, the recent announcements of NSW students’ HSC results showed almost three-quarters of the 150 top-ranked schools were independent.

The concentration of higher-achieving students in private schools could also magnify any peer effects on students’ decisions about future career paths or attending university.

Nonetheless the research on these questions is not definitive: it is very difficult to separate out the effects of background characteristics of students and the effects of the school sector given that more advantaged students tend to concentrate in private schools.

Some Australian research has shown the characteristics of students before they enter private schools have a larger effect on their aspirations, behaviour and attitudes than the school.

Rethinking the system?

While the capacity for parents to choose a school that best suits their child is often seen as an advantage, many disadvantaged families are a lot more constrained in their ability to choose, and pay for, private schools.

Students attending private schools may have access to other non-academic benefits, such as more opportunities for sports, excursions and other extracurricular activities.

But in terms of academic advantage, we know, from our research and other studies that explored similar questions, there is little evidence to show independent schools offer any. It is likely children will do equally well in any school sector.The Conversation

Sally Larsen, PhD candidate, Education & Psychology, University of New England and Alexander Forbes, PhD Candidate in Psychology, University of New England

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Comments

  • The whole idea of public vs private (and selective schools) I know has stressed lots of mums including myself. The decision to do whats best for your kids and how it might affect them for the rest of their like, it’s tough! I recommend having a read of these blogs as well on this debate https://www.owlearners.com.au/blog-1-1

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  • Interesting read, we debated on public vs private for our kids too

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  • What makes a differance is the teacher

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  • I disagree. There are smaller class sizes, meaning teachers can have more time to spend with individual students, instead of being overworked. They also have better facilities and opportunities, etc.

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  • I think public school teachers are so over worked and overwhelmed that often there’s a bit of I don’t care attitude that kids feel and internalise. We are about to move my kid to private primary school after being told that his below national average results in NAPLAN spelling (and difficulty spelling for over 3 years) weren’t a big deal, and in fact, “there’s just spell check these days.” That’s not good enough!

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  • Having attended both public and private high schools, I felt that private gave me better guidelines to stick to. Public schools can be so lax with rules, and I found that I thrived more in a stricter environment. But that’s just me.

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  • An interesting debate! My husband wants to send our children to public school and I am undecided. I, myself, had a public school education but now work in a private school so have seen both sides. I feel it is very much up to the luck of the draw with which teacher your child gets. Lazy and disconnected teachers are at all schools and only work for the 3pm knock off and 12 weeks of paid holidays. Alternatively, some teachers live to teach, arrive everyday at 7am, connect with the kids and have amazing educational improvements & outcomes. I feel if you choose a private education you are paying for the buildings and gardens (there are always infrastructure upgrades happening), the extra-curricular activities (camps, arts, sports, etc.) and the social networks/friendships your children will develop.

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  • Private schools don’t provide better education anymore, it is just the level of resources, specially in sports, that you kid can access. Heavy fees for that.

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  • Good to know that those without big incomes can thrive in public schools too.

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  • It might not make a difference to academic scores..but it can make a difference to the support your child gets. Most public schools don’t have enough funding to hire enough ESO’s

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  • Schooling is so expensive, but Private ones, wow, so much money. I know our children deserve a good education, but I think public schools can offer that.

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  • It’s teachers, the way they teach and the student’s ability to learn that will make the difference. My children have attended both public and private schools. I thought private would be better. I was wrong!

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  • Our daughter attended public schools for her infants, elementary, and secondary years. She did well at every school and is now at University. She had a natural desire to learn and her friendship groups were students who felt the same way. I found 99% of the teachers to be excellent. I would only have chosen a non-government school if I felt that she was unhappy in her environment. I’d also like to add that children excel in different ways. Some may do well academically in high school and then not so well at University, and vice versa. Some may excel in fields that require hands-on skills, such as trades, hospitality, performing arts etc.

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  • The kids achievement in school depends on the support they get at home. My cousin sends her child in private school only because she fears of bullying. As I have observed her child isnt an achiever at all, she pushes her and compares to her classmates which only tends for the child not to exert any effort neither try to excel in anything.

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  • To be quite honest I think it’s about the location these days. Public school in higher ass suburbs do great.

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  • I have worked in private secondary schools and when it comes to things like NAPLAN, from what I’ve seen they try to get the weaker kids NOT to do it. I’ve also seen them get low achieving students to do unscored vce in order to boost their standing. It doesn’t matter where the kids go, it’s all about the attitude and culture at home

    • Yes I don’t teach at private schools but I’ve seen this too and they also provide scholarships to high achieving students to bring them to their school and boost their scores. It’s all about perception so they can earn money they’re a business.

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  • I sent my daughters to a public school for primary school but High school I sent them to a private school and I found a big difference mainly in the price of things hahaa

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  • I grew up I’m public schooling and my husband in private school. Academically I did alot better then he did. I believe there are many factors that contribute and schooling has many other benefits including socially and mentally.

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  • I teach at an elite independent school and it’s true that the academic advantage may not be strong because results depend on so many different factors like the characteristics of the child. I would send my child to a private school if I could afford it because the local school options are not great. Sure you can try and work hard wherever you go but it definitely helps to be surrounded by peers who care about learning and teachers who care and are supported.

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  • I am a single mum and I work hard to send my son to a private school because of the peer benefits. The shared values is what I invest in and I hope it gives him friends for life who share the same values as we do.

    Reply
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