G.F. Brandenburg writes a terrific blog, where he uses data to refute reformer exaggerations. He was one of the first, for example, to break the story about Michelle Rhee’s inflated claims of success as a young teacher in Baltimore.
Here he displays the data comparing DC public schools to charter schools. It is a healthy antidote to the fantasy so often spun by Arne Duncan, Michelle Rhee, Joel Klein, and the other luminaries of the reform movement.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane, you are far too kind: what the ed deformers say about charter schools are neither exaggerations nor fantasies, but straight-out lies.
When we talk about charters “outperforming” public schools, we need to add a line saying something like, even if you accept test scores as a valid measure of performance. I don’t think most of us do accept test scores as a valid measure, but by saying that public schools outperform charters, we sort of buy into the validity of test scores.
I would say something like, even if you accept the charter schools’ own test-based definition of performance, public schools still “outperform” charters. But here are other ways that public schools outperform charters: by providing a fuller, richer curriculum, by accepting and educating all students, including the most challenging, etc.
A very good point, Dienne.
Wow, another report that shows charter schools do not outperform traditional public schools. Yawn . . . This is getting boring. When do we get to stop waiting for superman?
Those high performing DC public schools are all in DC’s Upper NW. Where the upper middle class live in very expensive homes. Those schools do not serve poor communities, few ESL, far fewer Special Ed. Their PTAs raise a LOT of outside $$$ That is never shared with poorer schools. And the out-of-boundary waiting lists are long.
When DC Charters are compared to DCPS schools of similar demographics, especially , the picture is still mixed as to charters’ quality, but it becomes clearer that some Charters are doing a very good job indeed. The Charter laws in DC are much stricter and more transparent than in other states, so it’s easier for research to be done & accountability to the families and the public is much more substantial. I hope the criminal things happening with charter in TX, AZ, OH, PA & FL never makes to DC.
The preponderance of evidence shows this is true of charters where ever they are located. They screen directly and indirectly for a certain kind of student and weed out those that are less desirable and might not reflect well on the charter school. It really isn’t about the kids, it’s about image.
http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-announces-grants-totaling-more-12-million-charter-school
And as you can see here, more money from the U.S. DOE /Duncan/Obama going to fund Charters.