Voucher student scores lag public school students

MADISON (AP) — Students attending private schools in Wisconsin using taxpayer subsidized vouchers did not score as well as their public school counterparts in reading or math.

Test results released Tuesday by the state Department of Public Instruction show voucher students in the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide program all scored lower than public school students.

Nearly 49 percent of public school students were proficient or advanced in reading. But only about 16 percent were in the Milwaukee choice program, 21 percent in Racine and 33 percent in the statewide program.

In reading, nearly 37 percent of public students had the highest two rankings. That compare with about 12 percent in the Milwaukee choice program, 19 percent in Racine and 33 percent in the other schools.