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Dec. 15, 2005 - Update on Test Scores
Well, a few days ago, I talked about homeschooling test scores,
and I've been wanting to revisit the subject. My Internet
research below is by no means official, but here is my best stab:
- HSLDA has a great article on the encouraging statistics of homeschoolers. One of the best quotes: "A significant finding when analyzing the data for 8th
graders was the evidence that homeschoolers who are homeschooled two or
more years score substantially higher than students who have been
homeschooled one year or less... The homeschoolers who have homeschooled all their school
aged years had the highest academic achievement. This was especially
apparent in the higher grades. This is a good encouragement to families catch the long-range vision and homeschool through high school." Yes, that is encouraging!
- An incredibly interesting survey of all types of homeschooling characteristics can be found on the EPAA site. (EPAA stands for Education Policy Analysis Archives.)
It
appears that private schools do not have to publish how well their
students do on standardized tests, in contrast with public and
homeschooled students. So it's a little tough to find good
information to compare private school students with
homeschoolers. But here are some things I found:
- A private Christian school in Indiana
publishes its students' test results. Their students did just as
good as homeschoolers, when compared to results listed at this website.
- Pensacola Christian School
(I'm using them as an example because I use their curriculum with our
kids, plus they happen to be one of the few schools who advertise their
test scores) boasts: "Our
1st8th grade classes average over 1 1/2 yrs. above grade level on
national achievement tests, and our 9th12th students average post
high school."
- The Florida Association of Christian Colleges and School's
website seems to indicate that private school test scores are very
similar to homeschool test scores. Like homeschoolers, the scores
seem to increase in the higher grades.
Okay,
I never said my little report was very scientific. To be honest,
I'm not very sure where to get good information. (Anyone want to
comment?)
So what's my point? If I think private schools are so great, then
why am I homeschooling? Well, I never said they were
great. I'm a graduate of one myself, and while I loved my
school, there are some definite drawbacks. First of all, how can
any school, public or private, compete with the one-on-one personal
tutoring that a homeschooled student receives. Secondly, and more
importantly, educational quality isn't anywhere near the top reason why
I homeschool. I am far more concerned with what teachers are
adding to the curriculum with their worldview and mindset, and I'm also
terribly concerned about the influence of peers on my children. I
praise God for the opportunity to homeschool.
However, sometimes I think that homeschoolers could do even
better. I don't want us to sit back on our laurels and think that
simply because our kids are home with us means that they will
automatically get a good education.
It comes down to what our goals are as we educate our children. But that's a topic for another time. It's way past my bedtime! :-)
~Anne
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I wholeheartedly agree!