August 16, 2016 11:00am by David Farrar

US charter schools

The number of charter schools has increased from 1,500 to 6,700 from 1999 to 2014.
The number of students in charter schools has increased from 350,000 to 2.9 million from 1999 to 2014.
5.8% of US students are now in a charter school – every one by choice
Bad charter schools get closed down – around 3% a year close. When was the last time a bad state school closed? Most get closed for failing to meet academic targets – accountability.
29% of charter students are black (double the 15% in state schools) and 27% are Latino.
Just over one million students are on a waiting list for a charter school
On average charter schools improve student learning but this varies by state. Poor and black students are most likely to have improved learning at charter schools.
Urban charter schools do especially well
Charter school performance has improved over time as low performing schools get closed down, new high performing schools get opened and existing schools improve