What the Times article does not tell you is that public schools spend up to four times as much per pupil as private schools FOR THE SAME RESULTS. In California, when you add up ALL funding sources, we spend nearly over $10,000 per kid per year in public school. Catholic schools spend an average of $4000 per kid per year, yet turn out (what the Times insists) kids with the same level of competence. Personally, I think the study is bogus. Do any of you know kids who go to Catholic schools who are just a tad ahead of the public school kids?
The higher cost in public school is due to special education. Public schools have to provide educational resources for each child, regardless of disability. Private and Catholic schools select students that they can accomodate. Think of all the disabilities, both mild and severe. Things like spina bifida, autism, and downs syndrome. They all receive a public school education if they choose. It costs a lot of money to educate all children.
My town spends right at 11,000 per student and our high school is not state accredited. It doesn't me the state standards. My children attend Catholic school at a cost of around 3750 per child. Both kids score above 90% in the state standardized tests so I'd say I'm pretty happy with the extra money I spend on their education.