Roberts Paideia in Price Hill and Silverton Paideia are being evaluated by Cincinnati Public Schools after they ranked low on performance and high on cost.

        Based on per-pupil funding in 1999-'00, they are among the most expensive of the 19 elementary magnet schools.

        As part of the same evaluation, the district is considering whether to add Montessori programs.

        There has been no decision on whether any programs will close, said Kathleen Ware, associate superintendent, and any changes would not occur before the 2003-'04 school year. There is no timetable for a decision.

        “It was clear this kind of decision would involve much discussion with the community,” she said. “The data showed by and large Montessori programs are successful and by and large are low-cost.”

        The effectiveness of the programs was based on data from three school years, beginning in 1997 and ending in 2000, said Jack Lewis, the district's director of research and evaluation.

        The district reviewed student achievement gains in reading and math, long-term enrollment, and whether racial balance matched that of the district.

        Roberts and Silverton, as well as Heinold school in Fairmount, fell in the second-lowest of four categories for meeting those indicators. No magnet schools were in the lowest category.

        Roberts and Silverton Paideia schools received $4,896 per student in 1999-2000, — the last year evaluated.

        Montessori programs, such as those at Winton, Sands, Carson, Fairview and North Avondale, all scored in the highest or second-highest categories for effectiveness. Montessori schools received $4,426 in per-pupil funding.

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