A Growing Movement: America's Largest Charter School Communities
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A GROWING MOVEMENT: AMERICA’S LARGEST CHARTER SCHOOL COmmUNITIES EIGHTH ANNUAL EDitiON DECEMBER 2013 growing by 23 percent with 22,000 more students in 2012–13 than in 2011–12. Among the 50 districts with the largest charter school student enrollments, 27 districts experienced 10 percent or greater growth between the 2011–12 and 2012–13 school years. The National Alliance analyzed public school enrollment data for the 2012–13 school year to identify communities across the country where the highest proportions of students were enrolled in public charter schools. This report compares the enrollment rates of charter schools located in traditional school district boundaries with noncharter public school enrollment within the same districts. However, it is important to note that the charter schools located in the school districts referenced may or may not be authorized by he latest data on public charter school have led efforts to narrow achievement gaps that particular school district. In many states, enrollment demonstrate once again and are showing that success is possible in a charter school may be geographically T that public charter schools are the neighborhoods where traditional schools located within a school district but have fastest-growing sector of public education in have been failing for generations. no official relationship with that district. the United States. Over the past five years, Moreover, students sometimes leave the student enrollment in public charter schools geographic boundaries of the school district has grown by 80 percent. In 42 states and For the past eight years, the National in which they live to attend charter schools. the District of Columbia, more than 2.3 Alliance for Public Charter Schools has That is why charter school enrollment million students—almost 5 percent of the tracked the growth in student enrollment reported by school district should not be total number enrolled in public schools— at public charter schools. This report construed as the school districts operating now attend charter schools. In seven school identifies communities that have the highest those charter schools. Rather, the comparison districts, more than 30 percent of students percentage and highest number of public between public charter schools and attend charter schools. In 135 districts, at school students enrolled in charter schools. traditional public schools serves as a proxy least 10 percent of students attend public When families have public school choice, they for where students who are enrolled in public charter schools. Thirteen school districts increasingly select public charter schools over charter schools would likely have enrolled if saw increases in charter school enrollment traditional public schools. A 2013 Phi Delta charter schools were not available. ranging from nearly 20 to almost 60 Kappa/Gallup poll indicates that nearly 70 1 percent in a single year. Because of their percent of Americans favor charter schools. The following tables present public charter track record of success and ability to meet And with nearly 1 million student names on school enrollment as the highest percentage the unique needs of students, parents are waiting lists to attend charter schools across 2 of students enrolled (or highest market increasingly choosing public charter schools the country, enrollment is likely to rise. share), the highest number of students in communities throughout the country. enrolled, and the largest growth in charter Demand for public charter schools is at an In 2012–13, charter schools in New Orleans school enrollment among districts with the all-time high. enrolled an astounding 79 percent of public highest number of students. school students. For the first time, more than This rapid rate of growth should come as 50 percent of students who live in Detroit no surprise. For more than 20 years, the attended public charter schools. At least public charter school movement has been a 20 percent of public school students were enrolled in charter schools in a total of 32 leader in innovation and education reform. 1 Bushaw, William J. and Shane J. Lopez. (2013). The By unleashing an environment of creativity school districts—25 more districts than when 45th Annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes this report was first published eight years Toward the Public Schools. www.pdkintl.org/poll/ in states and communities, public charter index.htm. ago. Furthermore, in 135 school districts, at schools have demonstrated that all children 2 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “Na- are capable of achieving high standards and least 10 percent of public school students tional Charter School Waitlist Numbers Approach One attended charter schools. Los Angeles charter Million,” National Alliance for Public Charter Schools college and career readiness. Charter schools Press Release (June 27, 2013). www.publiccharters.org/ schools enrolled more than 120,000 students, pressreleasepublic/default.aspx?id=1068. 2 THE HIGHEST PERCENtage OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2012–13 Charter Charter Noncharter Total Rank and Market Rank School District State Market Enrollment Public Enrollment Enrollment Share in 2012 Share 1. New Orleans Public School System LA 79% 36,126 9,414 45,540 #1 and 76% 2. Detroit Public Schools MI 51% 51,083 49,172 100,255 #2 and 41% 3. District of Columbia Public Schools DC 43% 34,674 45,557 80,231 #2 and 41% Flint City School District MI 36% 4,781 8,472 13,253 #4 and 33% 4. Kansas City, Missouri School District MO 36% 9,376 16,917 26,293 #3 and 37% 5. Gary Community School Corporation IN 35% 4,904 8,922 13,826 #5 and 31% 6. Hall County Schools GA 32% 8,633 18,042 26,675 Not in top 10 and 21% 7. Cleveland Metropolitan School District OH 29% 17,260 41,691 58,951 #6 and 28% Dayton Public Schools OH 28% 6,237 16,160 22,396 #7 and 26% 8. Indianapolis Public Schools IN 28% 11,750 29,803 41,553 #8 and 25% The School District of Philadelphia PA 28% 55,031 143,898 198,929 #9 and 23% Albany City School District NY 27% 2,933 8,004 10,937 #7 and 26% 9. Roosevelt School District 66 AZ 27% 3,809 10,356 14,165 #8 and 25% Toledo Public Schools OH 27% 8,865 24,473 33,338 #8 and 25% Grand Rapids Public Schools MI 26% 5,749 16,498 22,247 #9 and 23% 10. San Antonio Independent School District TX 26% 15,674 43,942 59,616 #7 and 26% THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2012–13 Charter Noncharter Public Total Charter Market Rank and Charter Rank School District State Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment Share Enrollment in 2012 1. Los Angeles Unified School District CA 120,958 534,611 655,569 18% #1 and 98,576 2. New York City Department of Education NY 58,353 964,846 1,023,199 6% #2 and 48,057 3. The School District of Philadelphia PA 55,031 143,898 198,929 28% #4 and 46,801 4. Detroit Public Schools MI 51,083 49,172 100,255 51% #3 and 47,086 5. Chicago Public Schools IL 49,187 348,454 397,641 12% #5 and 44,870 6. Miami-Dade County Public Schools FL 47,573 306,668 354,241 13% #6 and 41,767 7. Houston Independent School District TX 43,546 187,236 230,782 19% #7 and 40,549 8. New Orleans Public School System LA 36,126 9,414 45,540 79% #8 and 32,597 9. District of Columbia Public Schools DC 34,674 45,557 80,231 43% #9 and 31,562 10. Broward County Public Schools FL 34,408 226,512 260,920 13% #10 and 30,438 THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2012–133 Increase Growth Charter 2011–12 Charter 2012–13 Charter Rank School District State in Charter in Charter Market Share Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment 1. Hall County Schools GA 32% 5,469 8,633 3,164 58% 2. San Diego Unified School District CA 14% 13,215 17,851 4,636 35% 3. Duval County Public Schools FL 5% 5,167 6,689 1,522 29% 4. Newark Public Schools NJ 21% 7,310 9,293 1,983 27% 5. Hillsborough County Public Schools FL 6% 9,452 11,861 2,409 25% 6. Clark County School District NV 3% 9,028 11,237 2,209 24% 7. Los Angeles Unified School District CA 18% 98,576 120,958 22,382 23% 8. Boston Public Schools MA 13% 6,497 7,956 1,459 22% 9. New York City Department of Education NY 6% 48,057 58,353 10,296 21% Denver Public Schools CO 14% 9,945 11,793 1,848 19% Oakland Unified School District CA 22% 8,525 10,118 1,593 19% 10. Orange County Public Schools FL 4% 6,463 7,711 1,248 19% School District of Palm Beach County FL 7% 10,137 12,020 1,883 19% 3 The National Alliance examined growth in charter school enrollment for the 50 districts with the highest number of students enrolled in charter schools (see Appendix B). 3 A CLOser LOOK New Orleans Remains Number charter schools. Recent research confirms One in Market Share that the school choice market in Detroit is An astounding 79 percent of public school active, with 71 percent of families shopping students in New Orleans attended public for schools and 59 percent of families sending charter schools in the 2012–13 school year. their children to schools that were not the Not only are charters in New Orleans serving zoned traditional public school.5 a higher percentage of public school students than anywhere else in the nation, but they are also the highest-performing public schools Seven School Districts Reach at Least Ten School Districts with the Largest in the city.4 Notably, New Orleans charter 30 Percent Market Share Numbers of Students Enroll Nearly schools are approaching the Louisiana state In 2012–13, the school districts with at least One-Quarter of the Total Number average achievement—an accomplishment 30 percent of public school students enrolled of Charter School Students rarely seen in urban public schools.