Measuring the efficiency of private schools: Conceptual issues and empirical evidence

The expansion of educational opportunities available for pupils, the tendencies of change in the education system, and the pressure on the finances of schools require monitoring schools’ performance and efficiency. This chapter outlines measures of school efficiency, discusses the main methods for their assessment, and provides a comparative evaluation between public and private schools. Starting from the conceptualization of school and education efficiency, a systematic review of the most recent studies in the field for the last five years is provided. The outcome that emerges is that private schools are more efficient compared to public schools in many contexts and circumstances.