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In 1993, a small group of the larger independent coeducational day schools engaged Benchmark Research to design and coordinate a collaborative initiative (JRPO - Joint Research and Planning Office) serving shared research and planning needs at reasonable costs for participating schools. Since then, this consortium has grown to include 50 institutions while three other groups of independent schools have established and developed similar projects.
Collaborative Benchmark Projects
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The Joint Research and Planning Office (JRPO) serves selected research, planning and information needs of its sponsoring (i.e. member) institutions. Current activities and capabilities include:
- Annual report containing comparative analysis of institutional operations and performance
- Annual symposium on research and planning issues
- Special studies in response to member school needs
- Consulting support at special member school rates
The K-12/750 Benchmark Project
The project provides an annual report designed for trustees and administrators involved in strategic planning and policy development. The scope of the report is determined by the evolving needs of member schools. Using a ratio analysis approach and adjusting for regional variations of cost of living, the reports facilitate benchmarking by reference to a nation-wide group of independent coeducational day schools enrolling 750 or more students in grades PS-12, K-12, or 1-12.
The data-gathering demand on school personnel to support the K-12/750 Benchmark Project is largely offset by the capability of the project's database to facilitate completion of the school's annual NAIS survey responses. Thus, participating schools derive the substantial benefits of inclusion in the benchmarking analysis with little or no net increase in reporting burden.
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Reports
Each school participating in these collaborative benchmark projects receives a unique report comparing it on a wide range of structural and performance characteristics with statistics for the group as a whole.
- Ratio analysis and standardization of current, local financial data such as salaries and tuitions for regional variations in costs of living facilitate "apples to apples" comparisons.
- Extensive use of graphics makes many of the comparisons readable at a glance in a user-friendly document that can be printed in black and white or color or used directly for presentations via video projector.
While each school's report displays its own data against the background of comparative statistics for the group as a whole, identities of the other participating institutions and assocations with specific data items are not explicit. Use of the data by schools participating in these benchmark projects is governed by a confidentiality policy.
Annual Meeting
Annual two-day meeting on research and planning issues are scheduled for each group and these offer uniquely valuable opportunities for heads and senior administrators to explore shared challenges in a collegial context.
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JRPO Member Schools
- The Blake School, MN
- Campbell Hall, CA
- Cape Henry Collegiate School, VA
- Chadwick School, CA
- Charlotte Country Day School, NC
- Charlotte Latin School, NC
- Christ Church Episcopal School, SC
- Cincinnati Country Day School, OH
- The Collegiate School, VA
- Colorado Academy, CO
- The Crossroads School for Arts Sciences, CA
- Detroit Country Day School, MI
- Durham Academy, NC
- Dwight Englewood School, NJ
- The Episcopal Academy, PA
- Francis W. Parker School, IL
- Francis Parker School, CA
- Germantown Academy, PA
- Greenhill School, TX
- Hawken School, OH
- The Head-Royce School, CA
- Holland Hall School, OK
- Isidore Newman, LA
- Kentucky Country Day School, KY
- La Jolla Country Day School, CA
- The Latin School of Chicago, IL
- The Lovett School, GA
- Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School, MO
- Moses Brown School, RI
- Norfolk Academy, VA
- Pace Academy, GA
- The Packer Collegiate Institute, NY
- Park Tudor School, IN
- The Pembroke Hill School, MO
- The Pingry School, NJ
- Polytechnic School, CA
- Porter-Gaud School, SC
- Princeton Day School, NJ
- Providence Day School, NC
- Randolph School, AL
- Ravenscroft, NC
- Rowland Hall - St. Mark's School, UT
- St. Andrew's Episcopal School, MS
- Saint Edward's School, FL
- St. John's School, TX
- St. Margaret's Episcopal School, CA
- St. Paul Academy and Summit School, MN
- St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, VA
- Sidwell Friends School, DC
- The Summit Country Day School, OH
- Trevor Day School, NY
- University School of Milwaukee, WI
- The Westminster Schools, GA
- William Penn Charter School, PA
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