D.C. charter schools serve fewer at-risk students than nearby neighborhood schools
Nearly 90 percent of charter elementary schools serve a smaller portion of students considered “at risk” than their neighboring traditional public schools, according to a new analysis by the District of Columbia’s Office of Revenue Analysis.
The analysis, posted on the District, Measured blog, found that 47 out of 53 public charter elementary schools (or elementary-middle school campuses) last year enrolled a smaller share of at-risk students than the traditional school whose attendance zone they were located in.
The analysis adds a new perspective to ongoing debates about whether charter schools and traditional schools serve comparable populations.
Students considered “at risk of academic failure” — a new category being used in the District — include those who are in foster care or homeless, who are receiving welfare benefits or food stamps, or who are performing at least a year behind in high school. The D.C. Council has approved extra funding for these students, because they have greater needs and are considered harder to serve.
In a report of its demographic data, the D.C. Public Charter School Board says on its Web site: “Charter schools serve a student body that is equally or at times more disadvantaged, while outperforming DCPS [D.C. Public Schools].” The Web site notes that D.C. charter schools serve a greater proportion of African American students and comparable percentages of special education students and at-risk students.
While traditional and charter schools serve about the same proportion of at-risk students overall, the students are spread out differently.
The share of at-risk students in traditional schools varies greatly — from 1 to 90 percent. There are very few at-risk students attending elementary schools in affluent neighborhoods in Northwest, where there are no charter schools. D.C. charter schools serve fewer at-risk students than nearby neighborhood schools - The Washington Post:
