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The Efficiency of Australian Schools: A nationwide analysis using gains in test scores of students as outputs

Author

Listed:
  • Hong Son Nghiem

    (Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology)

  • Ha Trong Nguyen

    (Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University)

  • Luke B Connelly

    (Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland)

Abstract

This study examines the efficiency of schools in Australia and its determinants using the gain in NAPLAN test scores of students in 6,774 schools in 2009-2011. The results show that, based on empirical input-output combinations, the growth of NAPLAN test scores in Australian schools could be improved by 64 per cent by learning from best practice, on average. At the primary level, Catholic and independent schools are less efficient than public schools. At the secondary school level, though, public schools are found to be less efficient than other (non-public) schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong Son Nghiem & Ha Trong Nguyen & Luke B Connelly, 2016. "The Efficiency of Australian Schools: A nationwide analysis using gains in test scores of students as outputs," Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Working Paper series WP1603, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:ozl:bcecwp:wp1603
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    DEA; Australia; double bootstrap; gain of test scores;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity

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