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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 MSBP mid-sized benchmarking project is designed to support selected research, planning, and information needs of participating schools. Current activities and future 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 rates for participating schools
The MSBP Benchmark Project Report
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 participating schools. Using a ratio analysis approach and adjusting for regional variations in cost of living, the report will facilitate benchmarking by reference to a nation-wide peer group of independent day schools enrolling between 500 and 750 students in grades PS-12, PK-12, or K-12.
The data-gathering demand on participating schools is estimated at 25-30 staff hours in the first year, and probably somewhat less in subsequent years.
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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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MSBP Member Schools
- The Albany Academies, NY
- Ashley Hall, SC
- Bentley School, CA
- Berwick Academy, ME
- The Bush School, WA
- Canterbury School, FL
- The Catlin Gabel School, OR
- Convent of the Visitation School, MN
- Friends Academy, NY
- The Key School, MD
- King & Low-Heywood Thomas School, CT
- The Louisville Collegiate School, KY
- Manlius Pebble Hill School, NY
- Moorestown Friends School, NJ
- Mounds Park Academy, MN
- The North Shore Country Day School, IL
- Out-of-Door Academy, FL
- Phoenix Country Day School, AZ
- Sanford School, DE
- Sayre School, KY
- The Tatnall School, DE
- Tower Hill School, DE
- The Wellington School, OH
- The Wheeler School, RI
- Wilmington Friends School, DE
- The Winchester Thurston School, PA
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