Religious School Differences in School Climate and Academic Mission: A Descriptive Overview of School Organization and Student Outcomes

Abstract

School sector differences have been the subject of much debate in the literature, but there is limited data that allows careful consideration of differences within the religious school sector. The extensive Catholic school effects literature focuses on issues of school climate, especially an emphasis on persons-in-community, or communal organization (Bryk, Lee, & Holland, 1993). But less is known about sector differences in school climate across evangelical Protestant, Catholic, and nonreligious private schools, particularly as these differences vary between the United States and Canada. This study uses descriptive analysis of national-level survey data from the Cardus Education Study to show average differences across detailed school sectors on several measures of school climate and mission. It finds a strong focus on relational goals in evangelical Protestant schools and an emphasis on academic outcomes in Catholic schools. The findings also point to nearly uniformly positive evaluations from private school graduates of their high school experience, which is particularly characteristic of evangelical Protestant and nonreligious private schools.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Volunteerism Activities for Individuals Educated in Public and Private Schools

“…However, it appears that the Catholic-school advantage in volunteering that is welldocumented in the literature (Wolf 2007) may not persist into adulthood, a finding consistent with other studies (Dill, 2009;Hill & den Dulk, 2013;Schwartz & Sikkink, 2014;Sikkink, 2012). We suggest that this finding reflects the organization of volunteering during high school,…”

School Choice and the Branding of Milwaukee Private Schools*

“…For example, the provision of religious instruction is a well‐known aspect of the brand identity of Catholic, Lutheran, and other types of Protestant schools but not of public or secular private schools (Sikkink, ). Our empirical results are consistent with this fact.…”

Rejoinder to William H. Jeynes' “Response to theJournal of School Choice's Special Section on ‘Private Religious Protestant and Catholic Education in North America: Contributions and Concerns’”

“…While he lauds the studies (see Van Pelt, Sikkink, Pennings, & Seel, 2012;Sikkink, 2012;Van Brummelen & Koole, 2012;LeBlanc & Slaughter, 2012;Beckman, Drexler, & Eames, 2012;and Candal & Glenn, 2012) for their contribution to a widely understudied field, he nevertheless encourages future contributors in research on private Protestant and Catholic schools to consider the larger philosophical, theological, anthropological and metaphysical questions surrounding the motivation for such schools. Additionally, he advises that such a program of research must also contribute to the practical policy and school design implications of the findings of study within and beyond the sector.…”