Wisconsin Test Score Data: Once Again, Choice Students Outscore Public Schools

Data Shows School Choice Leads to Improved Outcomes

October 8, 2024 (Madison, Wis.) – Newly released Department of Public Instruction (DPI) test score data shows school choice students maintain an advantage over public schools that has continued for at least the last three years.

“Wisconsin choice students perform better despite being financed at 70% of the average public school cost,” said Nicholas Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin. “This performance advantage was true under prior DPI reporting standards and remains so under its new regimen.”

“The results explain why polling shows 77% of Wisconsinites agree that parents, not the state, are responsible for determining the type of education their children need,” Kelly said.

As shown in the attached tables, students in the three private school choice programs outscored public students in 32 of 36 tested grades on the state Forward Exam.

On the college-readiness ACT exam, choice students from low and moderate-income families outscored public school students from all income levels.

Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) vs Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Forward Results

Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP) vs Racine Unified School District (RUSD) Forward Results

Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) vs State Economically Disadvantaged minus MPS & RUSD*

Choice vs Counterparts PreACT Secure Results

Choice vs Counterparts ACT Results

 

*State economically disadvantaged students minus MPS & RUSD
**Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) students must be at or below 220 percent of the federal poverty line
***State all incomes minus MPS & RUSD
****All public students that are at or below 180 percent of the federal poverty line
*****All public students all incomes
NOTE: Percentage achievement scores are based on students that actually took the tests (Non test takers have been removed)