The Estimated Effect of Catholic Schooling on Educational Outcomes Using Propensity Score Matching

This paper examines the effect of attending a Catholic high school on educational outcomes. The statistical analysis is based on data obtained from the US National Educational Longitudinal Study. Using propensity score matching methods to control for selection bias, we find that Catholic schooling improves maths test scores, with stronger effects for males than for females, but appears to have little effect (if any) on reading scores. Catholic schooling also raises high school graduation rates and substantially increases the likelihood of enrolment in a 4-year college. Use of the difference-in-difference method suggests that the effect of Catholic schooling on changes in maths scores is more muted, though still statistically significant