Goldwater Institute: Private School Students More Tolerant and Politically Accepting

Survey shows students in private school are more likely respect diversity

Phoenix--Are Arizona's high school students better served by private or public schools? We asked those who know best: the students.

The Goldwater Institute surveyed students in public and private high schools about the academic environment and racial and political tolerance in their schools. The results are being released in two reports. The first, "Tough Crowd: Arizona High School Student School Evaluation" measured students' satisfaction with their schools and the schools' academic environments. The second, "Better Citizens, Lower Cost: Comparing Scholarship Tax Credit Students to Public School Students" examines student perceptions about civic tolerance, diversity and volunteerism within their schools.

The survey shows that by a four-to-one margin, students in private schools report a greater sense of civic responsibility, look forward to going to school, volunteer in their community and value diversity over their public school counterparts.

Survey responses include:

"My school teaches me to value, respect and tolerate differences in others."
76 percent of students in private school agree with that statement, compared with 51 percent of students in public school.

"My school treats all students with respect regardless of race."
64 percent of students in private high school agree with that statement, compared with 40 percent of public school students.

"My school has high expectations of me."
71 percent of students in private high school agree with that statement, compared with 48 percent of students in public high school.

"I look forward to going to school."
Only 66 percent of students in private high school agree with that statement, compared to 47 percent of students in public school.

"This survey punches semi-truck sized holes in the old arguments against private school education, and in turn, the value of the tuition tax credit program," said Goldwater Institute Vice President of Research Matthew Ladner, Ph.D. "Students are in the best position to tell us what's really going on in the classroom, and the results show students in private schools are getting a better education and adopting better civic values, all at a lower price tag to the taxpayer."

"Tough Crowd: Arizona High School Student School Evaluation" and "Better Citizens, Lower Cost: Comparing Scholarship Tax Credit Students to Public School Students" are both available online. The Goldwater Institute is an independent government watchdog supported by people who are committed to expanding free enterprise and liberty.