School attended makes a difference

Students from public schools in metro Vancouver did better than those  in private schools and from distant parts of the Province in first year university: read on

Student Success in First-Year University Physics and Mathematics Courses: Does the high-school attended make a difference?

International Journal of Science Education

DOI:

10.1080/09500693.2012.667168

Maria Adamuti-Trache^a*, George Bluman^b &Thomas Tiedje^c
Version of record first published: 19 Apr 2012

Abstract

This paper considers school factors that contribute to a successful transition from high school to first-year university Physics courses at the University of British Columbia by employing a two-level hierarchical model. It is assumed that there is a relationship between student performance and the high school they graduated from. It is shown that school location and type affect student performance: students from public schools in the Metro Vancouver area perform better in first year compared to students from independent schools and schools in distant communities. The study also considers rankings of schools based on student performance in first-year university Physics and Calculus courses. These university-based rankings differ significantly (essentially in reverse order) from the well-known Fraser Institute rankings based on measures internal to high schools.