Analyzing the Impact of School Type on Student Outcomes Across Counties: A Comparative Study Using ANOVA

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of school type on student outcomes across various counties, employing a comparative analysis using ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). Recognizing education as a fundamental driver of social and economic advancement, this research aims to identify whether significant disparities exist in academic performance across school types. The dataset, collected from multiple counties in Washington, United States, comprises extensive student performance metrics, school characteristics, and demographic information. Through data preprocessing and handling of missing values, the study ensured a robust dataset suitable for statistical analysis. The ANOVA results revealed a statistically significant difference in student outcomes across school types, suggesting that the type of school attended correlates with academic performance. Additionally, post-hoc analysis using Tukey's HSD test identified specific pairs of school types with notable performance differences. Public schools generally showed lower outcomes compared to private and charter institutions, which often benefit from additional resources and specialized curricula. However, geographic disparities, such as those between urban and rural counties, further influenced these results, highlighting the role of location and socioeconomic factors. These findings have implications for educational policymakers and stakeholders, indicating a need for targeted support for underperforming school types and regions. Addressing these disparities could help foster equitable access to quality education. The study concludes by recommending further research through longitudinal studies and deeper exploration of demographic factors that interact with school type, potentially offering more insight into the mechanisms influencing student success across diverse educational settings.