WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ten years ago, only one community in the nation enrolled at least 30 percent of its public school students in charter public schools. Today, 14 communities meet that threshold, demonstrating high demand for increased charter school enrollment across the nation, according to the 10th annual student enrollment share report released today by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
The report, A Growing Movement: America’s Largest Charter School Communities, identifies communities with the highest enrollment share and largest number of students attending charter public schools.
“It should be no surprise that charter school enrollment share is at an all-time high,” said Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. “Charter public schools have a long track record of meeting students’ specific needs, preparing them to succeed in college, careers and life, and reducing achievement gaps. We expect enrollment will continue to grow in order to keep pace with parental demand.”
The growth in student enrollment in charter schools is significant in communities across the nation. Among the key findings:
-Los Angeles enrolled more than 150,000 students in charter schools in 2014-15 compared to 139,200 in 2013-14 – the highest for any school district in the country. Los Angeles charters also reported outstanding results in this year’s NAEP results.
-For the first time, Kansas City, Mo., and Gary, Ind., enrolled more than 40 percent of their public school students in charter schools. In Kansas City, charter school student enrollment increased from 6,500 in 2005-06 to 10,000 in 2014-15. With declining overall student enrollment in the past decade, the district’s charter school enrollment share has doubled – from 20 percent to 41 percent.
-Given the high-quality charter school environment for students in Washington, D.C., charter school enrollment has increased from 25 percent in 2005-06 to 44 percent in 2014-15. D.C. showed improvements in NAEP results as well, by both charter and non-charter students.
-Almost all students in New Orleans, 93 percent, attended charter schools in 2014-15. In addition to serving a high percentage of students, charter schools have also experienced a substantial growth in academic performance.
-The number of charter school students in New York City has quadrupled since 2008 – from 20,000 to nearly 85,000.
-In more than 160 districts, at least 10 percent of students attend charter public schools.
When this report was first released in 2006, the national student enrollment in charter schools was one million; that number has since tripled. Many factors have contributed to the growth in enrollment, including strong charter school laws that foster innovation and provide autonomy while demanding accountability standards.
In some districts, both high charter school enrollment and high academic performance are prominent. For example, the 2015 NAEP results show that charter school students in Los Angeles scored higher than the district’s non-charter school students, higher than all students in California, and higher than the national averages of all students in all four tested areas (4th and 8th grade reading and math). Washington, D.C. students showed marked improvement on NAEP by charter and non-charter schools alike, with gains in 4th grade reading and 4th grade math.
“The results are promising and an indication that charter schools are making a difference in academic performance regardless of a student’s socioeconomic status,” said Rees.
To read the report in detail, click here.
