According to the Cardus Education Survey, and The Economic Benefits Produced by the Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools Survey, secondary Catholic school graduates receive an overall better intellectual education. In contrast, secondary Protestant school graduates receive more religious and faith training. The graduates of Catholic schools outscore their peers on assessment tests, scoring highest in math, and attend highly competitive colleges and universities. Administrators of Catholic schools often cite university acceptance as their top priority, while administrators of Protestant schools often cite family as their top aspiration for graduates.
Researchers found that both Catholic and Protestant schools teach the importance of family life and church. However, Protestant school students' larger family sizes and fewer divorces show more of a commitment to family than that of their Catholic peers. Also, Protestant students outranked Catholic students' participation in aid and relief trips, charitable giving and participation in community projects. Research shows that Catholic schools benefit the community greatly because Catholic schools tend to be placed in low-income and older communities, which typically have poor performing public schools, offering communities a better educational choice. Catholic schools situated in these communities provide scholarships and discounted tuition.
The Cardus study reveals that graduates of Protestant schools are less politically active than graduates from Catholic schools. The survey shows that Protestant graduates are less likely to give to political campaigns, or become engaged in political discussions. Both studies find that Catholic school graduates contribute more to government funding and more often produce community leaders and civic organizers.
Despite the educational gains, future earnings and social accountability graduates from these schools display, the overall attitudes and behaviors of Protestant school graduates seem to be more optimistic. Protestant students reportedly possessed more hope and positive outlooks about their future, exhibiting a firm sense of direction for their lives.