A Wise Investment: The Productivity of Public and Private Schools of Choice in Wisconsin

Abstract

I calculate the cost-effectiveness of private schools participating in school voucher programs, and independent charter schools, compared to district-run public schools in Wisconsin for the 2017-18 school year. I calculate cost-effectiveness by dividing the Accountability Report Card score for each school by the public dollars invested in each school. Using a conservative analytic approach, I find that private and independent charter schools tend to be more cost-effective than district-run public schools in the state overall and for the vast majority of individual cities.

Keywords: school choice, charter schools, school productivity, school vouchers

JEL Classification: I28, I20