Public schools better than private schools, study suggests

April 23, 2012.

Janet Steffenhagen, Education writer

A recently published study suggests public-school students have an edge over private-school students when they enter university.   The study compared the marks of first-year students, from 110 B.C. high schools, enrolled in first-year physics classes at the University of B.C. between 2002 and 2006.   Students from public schools in Metro Vancouver outperformed those who had graduated from private schools and students from elsewhere in B.C. The study also found that east Vancouver graduates did better than west Vancouver students.   The study, published in the International Journal of Science Education, was conducted by George Bluman of UBC’s math department, and Thomas Tiedje of the University of Victoria’s electrical and computer engineering department. Their research contradicts the Fraser Institute’s annual report cards, which regularly rank a dozen or so college-preparatory independent schools above all others and suggests west-side schools are more successful than east-side schools.   Bluman has reported this same finding for many years.

Unfortunately the report referred to above is not available unless you pay a fee USD $36

Thanks to the Vancouver Sun www.vancouversun.com