Why Classical Christian Schools Can Disrupt Education Philanthropy
More than anyone else in America today, Classical Christian schools know how important philanthropy is if you want to keep your doors open.
Martin Wooster, a Fellow at the Capital Research Center, recently argued donors should consider an investment in classical education. That is, if donors want to see dollar for dollar results.
Wooster thinks that philanthropists will be remarkably open to this idea. Why? Because donors are learning from the failed projects which came before them. Famous progressives have dumped millions into reform efforts that go nowhere.
For example, look at the Bill and Melinda Gates and the Walton Family Foundations. Both organizations spend over 400 Million dollars every year on school reform, and they advance a solidly progressive approach to education. Everything from support for Common Core to assessing teachers on the basis of student’s performance and standardized tests.
Of course, these recent projects turned out to be a black hole for donor money and failed to significantly improve student outcomes. A recent report on the trends in education philanthropy shows that investors are seeking alternatives.
While philanthropists are still committed to progressive education strategies, Wooster hints that classical education could be a beneficial move for anyone who genuinely wants to disrupt and improve education.
“Conservatives interested in promoting virtue might try supporting classical education. Find charter schools that stress the classics and support them. Find ways of making Latin and Greek something students would want to learn.”
Fortunately, we have a case to make to donors–especially those who want to provide more children with access to affordable, private schooling.
The Case Classical Christian Schools Can Make to Donors.
The graduates of classical Christian schools are sought by the finest institutions of Higher education and the job market. This is mainly because of the quality of our students. To boot, most of our schools average under $7,500 for tuition, but produce students who test far higher than Prep schools who charge $20,000 a year.
In 2015, ACCS SAT scores were on average 85 points higher than independent schools. This means that our students consistently outperform students from the wealthiest and most privileged zip codes in America. This past year, on the SAT College readiness benchmark, ACCS graduates outscored Independent schools by 66 Points, and Public Schools by 205 Points.
At first glance, these student outcomes are statistically unlikely. However, the same results are showing every year. Student outcomes from classical Christian schools outpace everyone else. Even the schools who are given millions in donor funding are unable to keep up.
Donors are upset with failed projects in progressive education. They are looking for actual results. It’s time that we direct them to classical Christian education.
Classical Christian leaders and affiliates need to make the case louder than ever before.
“most of our schools average under $7,500 for tuition” I would think that a statistic giving the average tuition for all of the ACCS schools would be more meaningful since the test scores reported come from all ACCS schools.