The Impact of School Type and Region on English Language Outcomes in Costa Rica

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm
  In Roundtable Session: The Impact of Social Context and Language Learning

Abstract

This study examines how school type (public vs. private) and geographic region (Greater Metropolitan Area vs. non-metropolitan areas) interact to influence English proficiency among Costa Rican high school students. Using data from 66,886 students collected by the Programa de Evaluación en Lenguas Extranjeras (PELEx) in 2022, two regression models tested whether regional context moderates the relationship between school type and language scores. Results showed that public school students outside the metropolitan region were most disadvantaged (A2 vs. B2 levels). Public bilingual programs in the metropolitan area performed similarly to private schools, but their effectiveness declined in rural areas. These findings underscore the need for context-aware evaluations of bilingual education.

Authors

• Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez, University of Kansas

• Walter Araya Garita, Universidad de Costa Rica