Reading and Math Achievement for African American Third-Grade Students in Public Montessori Schools

• In Event: 56.081 - Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 56.081-17 - Perspectives on Black Student Success in K–12 Education

Abstract

Montessori programs are expanding in public schools, serving a large proportion of African American students (Debs, 2015). Although recent Montessori research has focused on diverse public school populations, few studies have examined outcomes for African American students at the lower elementary level. This quasi-experimental study compares reading and math achievement for African American third grade students in public Montessori and other magnet schools in a large, urban district in North Carolina. Scores from end-of-grade state tests of reading and math are compared using a multivariate analysis of covariance. No significant difference in math scores was identified, but students in Montessori schools scored significantly higher in reading. This suggests that Montessori lower elementary instruction may be beneficial for African American students.

Authors

• Katherine Elizabeth Brown, National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector

• Chance W. Lewis, University of North Carolina - Charlotte