Department of Public Instruction Grades Choice Schools Higher Than Public

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (November 29, 2022) – A School Choice Wisconsin analysis of DPI Report Cards shows that schools in the state’s parental choice programs have earned higher grades than public schools.

“Despite entry barriers, and funding at 60% of public school levels, DPI finds that schools in private school choice programs outperform public schools,” said Nic Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin. He added, “These results are consistent with previously released DPI data. That data showed choice students outscoring public school students on the college-readiness ACT test. It also ranked choice students higher on academic proficiency tests.”

Students in Wisconsin’s choice programs outperform traditional public school students on ACT

DPI data continue to show positive results for students in school choice programs

Forty-seven percent of choice students attended schools that “exceed” or “significantly exceed” DPI expectations. See the table below. Using DPI grades, it compares the percentage of students attending public school districts with the percentage of students at private choice schools.

	Public District Students*	Choice School Students**
Significantly Exceeds Expectations	5.8%	18.3%
Exceeds Expectations	30.6%	28.9%
Significantly Exceeds and Exceeds Subtotal	36.4%	47.2%
Meets Expectations	46.8%	39.7%
Meets Few Expectations	16.8%	11.6%
Fails to Meet Expectations	0.0%	2.2%

 

*Includes 421 of the state’s 422 districts (averages of schools within districts). Individual schools within districts did fail to meet expectations.

**Includes 163 private schools or private school systems that enroll 80% of choice students. Schools are not required to test if there are fewer than 20 choice students in testable grades or if the parent(s)/guardian(s) opt their student out. Hope Christian High School was excluded as it was winding down operations during the 2021-22 school year.