Comparing the Standardized Test Scores of British Columbia’s Public and Independent Schools

Main Conclusions

• In all six Foundation Skill Assessment exams (FSAs), non-elite independent schools had a higher five-year average score than public schools, by statistically significant amounts.
• The largest difference on FSA exams was in Writing: non-elite independent schools scored 18.0% higher than public schools in grade 4, and 18.9% higher in grade 7.
• On Provincial Required Exams (PREs), non-elite independent schools had a higher five-year aver-age score than public schools on four out of the five exams, by statistically significant amounts.
• The largest difference on the PRE exams was in English 10: non-elite independent schools scored 5.4% higher than public schools.
• After-tax income of families with students attending non-elite independent schools is nearly the same—only 1.9% higher—as that of families with students attending public schools.