Catholic Grade Schools and Academic Achievement

JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCES, Vol. 31, No. 3, Summer 1996

Posted: 15 Apr 1998

See all articles by William Sander

William Sander

DePaul University - Department of Economics

Abstract

The effect of a Catholic grade school education on the test scores of non-Hispanic whites is examined. Particular attention is given to the issue of selection into the Catholic grade school sector. It is shown that eight years in a Catholic grade school is associated with higher vocabulary, mathematics and reading test scores. No Catholic grade school effect is found on science test scores. Further, it is shown that there is not positive selection into the Catholic school sector. Thus, higher test scores cannot be attributed to selecting superior students. It is also shown that the positive Catholic schooling effect is driven by non-Catholics who attend Catholic grade schools. Once non-Catholics in Catholic schools are eliminated from the sample, the Catholic school effect becomes zero. Data from the third follow-up survey of the High School and Beyond 1980 Sophomore Cohort are used.

JEL Classification: I21

Suggested Citation

Sander, William, Catholic Grade Schools and Academic Achievement. JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCES, Vol. 31, No. 3, Summer 1996, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3294

William Sander (Contact Author)

DePaul University - Department of Economics ( email )

1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
United States

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