Critical Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): A QuantCrit Approach for Evaluating School Performance

This research integrates traditionally opposing methodologies—quantitative methods and Critical inquiry—to advance equitable evaluation in educational settings. Focusing on Queensland’s remote schools in Australia (n = 696), it repurposes Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as a ‘Critical’ asset-oriented tool, termed in this study as Critical DEA. Grounded in QuantCrit, which applies Critical Race Theory (CRT) to challenge quantitative assumptions, this study reframes school performance using red-dirt indicators—local voices, diversity, equity, parental involvement, community engagement, academic outcomes, and geography. Using administrative data (e.g., Schools Opinion Survey), Critical DEA highlights asset-based narratives of school success, countering deficit-based assessments tied to standardized test scores. It provides nuanced insights into school performance, particularly for remote and very remote communities, shifting the discourse towards contextualized, equity-driven evaluations. Methodologically, this study pioneers the use of DEA within QuantCrit to challenge conventional definitions of ‘advantage’ and ‘disadvantage,’ demonstrating how quantitative tools can support Critical inquiry in school performance assessment.

Tanya Doyle, Dr – Associate Professor, College of Education, Social Sciences and Arts, James Cook University; Louisa Engel, Dr – Associate Professor, College of Education, Social Sciences and Arts, James Cook University