The Good News about Charter Schools

This information was provided today by the federal Charter School Program office:

1. The percentage of District of Columbia public school students (including charter) who scored proficient or advanced in reading was 38% (elementary) and 35% (secondary). Fifty-nine percent of all public charter schools exceeded the state average, while only 44% of DCPS schools exceeded the average.
2. Of the 239 public schools receiving the National Blue Ribbon award, 8 were charter schools.
3. Among communities with at least 10,000 public school students, eight had at least 1/5th of their public school students in public charter schools, an increase from six in the 2005-06 school year.
4. A 2003 national report by the Brookings Institute shows that test scores at charter schools are "rising sharply" and out-gaining conventional public schools.