contact: Kathleen Hohl; hohlk@archmil.org; 414-769-3494

Information is from Summer 2003 Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools Update

• Religious and independent schools save U.S. taxpayers $43.4 billion every year.
  The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) estimates this figure based on 2001 U.S. Census Bureau data showing average per pupil spending in the U.S. at $7,284 multiplied by the almost six million K-12 students in private schools.

• On average, fourth grade students in religious and independent schools in the U.S. score significantly higher on literacy.
  The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study in 2001 found that private school fourth-graders scored 42 points higher than public school students for the combined reading literacy scale and informational subscale. For the full student, go to the NCES web site.

• Hispanic religious and independent school parents are significantly more satisfied with their children's shcools than Hispanic public school parents.
  The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) says that, in 1999, 78% of Hispanic parents are very satisfied with their children's priviate schools compared with 55% of Hispanic parents with children in public-assigned schools and 66% of Hispanic parents with children in public schools the parents had chosen. For more, visit the NCES web site.

• Three quarters of religious and independent school parents across the nation are very satisfied with their children's schools, teachers, academic standards and discipline.
  The NCES also found that 75% of private school parents are very satisfied with their children's schools. Only 45% of parents of children who had been assigneed a public school said the same. Of parents who had chosen their children's public schools, 59% said they were very satisfied. More is available on the web site.

• The general public, by a ratio of almost two-to-one, says religious and independent schools have higher academic standards than public schools.
  This figure comes from The Public Agenda's just-releassed report "Where We Are Now: Twelve Things You Need to Know About Public Opinion and Public Schools." The complete report is available here.