High-Stakes, Uneven Ground: English Proficiency Across School Types in Costa Rica

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Contemporary Issues In Education

Abstract

This study analyzes English proficiency among 66,842 Costa Rican high school students using 2022 PELEx PDL-MEP data. Welch’s t-tests, ANOVA, and multilevel models examined differences by school type and region. Private school students scored significantly higher than public school peers (mean difference = 13.56, d = 1.78), typically reaching B2 on the CEFR, while public students averaged A2. Within public schools, bilingual and specialized programs performed best, nearing private school levels. In contrast, adult education programs showed the lowest scores. Results reveal substantial disparities in English proficiency tied to school type, pointing to a need for more equitable educational support and resource allocation.

Authors

• Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez, University of Kansas

• Walter Araya Garita, Universidad de Costa Rica

• Ana Carolina González Ramírez, Universidad de Costa Rica