Private School Choice and Educational Outcomes in

Metropolitan Hartford

Heather Moore ’08Cities, Suburbs, and Schools research project

Trinity College, Hartford CTwww.trincoll.edu/depts/educ/css

July 18, 2005

Website: www.ceoct.org

Eligibility Requirements

Students must reside in Hartford, Bridgeport, or New Haven

Applicants must be within 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size

New Applicants must be in grades K-5; Renewal Applicants must be in grades K-8

Scholarships to Private and Parochial Schools

Eligible applicants receive scholarships that are worth half of their annual tuition, up to a maximum of $1,700 per student

In 2004-2005, 567 students were provided scholarships to 24 Hartford-area schools, 16 Bridgeport-area schools, and 7 New Haven-area schools

Research Questions

1. Who participates in the CEO program?

Research Questions

1. Who participates in the CEO program?2. What schools do CEO students attend?

Research Questions

1. Who participates in the CEO program?2. What schools do CEO students attend?3. What are CEO students’ school grades in

comparison to their private and parochial peers?

1. Who participates in the CEO program?

1. Who participates in the CEO program?

CEO Students 2004-2005

City Total PercentHartford 331 58%Bridgeport 172 30%New Haven 59 10%Other 5 1%Grand Total 567 100%

1. Who participates in the CEO program?

1. Who participates in the CEO program?

1. Who participates in the CEO program?

2. What schools do CEO students attend?

Hartford-area schools TotalSt. Cyril and Methodius 77St. Augustine - Hartford 62Hartford 7th Day Adventist 53St. Thomas the Apostle 33St. Brigid School 19Hartford Christian School 14New Testament Baptist 10Praise Power & Prayer Christian 10St. Mary School 10Trinity Christian School 9Shiloh Christian Academy 8St. Rose 6Corpus Christi 5Cornerstone Christian School 4Cedar Court 2Emmanuel Christian Academy 2Talcott Mountain Academy 2First Academy 1Montessori School of Greater Hartford 1Renbrook 1Sacred Heart St. Peter School 1St. Christopher School 1St. Paul's (Berlin) 1St. Timothy Middle School 1Grand Total 333

2. What schools do CEO students attend?

2. What schools do CEO students attend?

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Factors and Limitations to Consider: CEO student grades cannot be easily compared with

standardized tests (such as public school CMT scores)

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Factors and Limitations to Consider: CEO student grades cannot be easily compared with

standardized tests (such as public school CMT scores)

Next best option is school report card grades (CEO receives report cards from some students,

but not grades of all students in participating schools)

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Factors and Limitations to Consider: CEO student grades cannot be easily compared with

standardized tests (such as public school CMT scores)

Next best option is school report card grades (CEO receives report cards from some students,

but not grades of all students in participating schools)

CEO compiles grade summaries for report cards received

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

2004-2005 CEO Student Performance by Grade (Percentage)

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% of A/B students % of C students% of D/F students

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Notes:

*Represents only some CEO participants*

2004-2005 CEO Student Performance by Grade (Percentage)

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% of A/B students % of C students% of D/F students

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Notes:

*Represents only some CEO participants*

*Average grades of all students in participating schools unknown *

2004-2005 CEO Student Performance by Grade (Percentage)

0102030405060708090

100

KFirs

t

Secon

d

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixt

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Seven

th

Eighth

Grade Level

Perc

ent o

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dent

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% of A/B students % of C students% of D/F students

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Notes:

*Represents only some CEO participants*

*Average grades of all students in participating schools unknown *

*Cause & effect is not known*

2004-2005 CEO Student Performance by Grade (Percentage)

0102030405060708090

100

KFirs

t

Secon

d

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixt

h

Seven

th

Eighth

Grade Level

Perc

ent o

f Stu

dent

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% of A/B students % of C students% of D/F students

3. What are CEO students’ school grades in comparison to their private and parochial peers?

Future Research Ideas How do participating schools feel about the CEO

program and its students?

Future Research Ideas How do participating schools feel about the CEO

program and its students? “Many parents have the desire to place and keep their children in a private school environment but struggle to do so. The ones who benefit from programs such as this one look forward to the remittance to keep their dream alive of educating their children in a setting that will cater their child/children’s needs consistently. This program has to continue to reach out to such parents. Thanks.”

“This CEO Program is outstanding: It allows families access to schools such as ours, with a solid academic curriculum and good character value modeled and taught. “

* Selected comments from participating schools*

*CEO received both positive and negative comments*

Future Research Ideas How do participating schools feel about the CEO

program and its students? Why are CEO parents motivated to send their

children to private and parochial schools?

Future Research Ideas How do participating schools feel about the CEO

program and its students? Why are CEO parents motivated to send their

children to private and parochial schools? How do students perform before, during, and after

their participation in the CEO program?

Future Research Ideas How do participating schools feel about the CEO

program and its students? Why are CEO parents motivated to send their

children to private and parochial schools? How do students perform before, during, and after

their participation in the CEO program? How will the CEO program connect with

Hartford Mayor Perez’s future high school scholarship program (coming July 21st)?

Acknowledgements

• Lucille Nickerson and Don Wilson from DK Wilson and Associates

• The entire research team for all their help and support

Contact Information

• Feel free to contact me directly at Heather.Moore@trincoll.edu