Education Week conducted a survey of graduation rates and discovered that charter high schools have lower graduation rates than public high schools.
Of course, charter apologists had many explanations and excuses but they apparently forgot their original claim that they would be far, far better than public schools.
A story by Arianna Prothero and Alex Hardin begins:
”At nearly 1,000 U.S. high schools, the chance of students graduating on time is no better than the flip of a coin. And charter schools—which were born to create more options for students—make up an outsized share of the number of public schools persistently graduating less than half of their students.
“An analysis of federal data by the Education Week Research Center identified 935 public high schools with four-year graduation rates of less than 50 percent in 2016-17, the most recent year available. Of those, 54 percent are charter schools. That’s one-quarter of all U.S. charter high schools, and nearly 3 percent of all public high schools.
“These numbers aren’t just a one-time blip. Many charter schools have suffered from chronically low graduation rates of below 50 percent since 2010-11.
“And the number of charters with low graduation rates could be even larger than the Education Week analysis reveals. That’s because some charter schools were excluded from the federal data set due to student privacy concerns. For its analysis, the Education Week Research Center also removed all schools labeled as “alternative” in the federal data.
“The data undercuts the idea that charters are a better option,” said Robert Balfanz, a Johns Hopkins University researcher who is a national authority on graduation-rate patterns. “If kids go to a charter high school where the norm is not to graduate, it’s not delivering on the promise of creating better, more successful schools for kids in need.”
“But some charter advocates and experts argue that it’s unfair to compare how charter high schools stack up against their traditional school peers when it comes to graduation rates…
”Charter schools were created more than 25 years ago as an alternative to the traditional school district system. Since then, the charter sector has slowly grown to about 7,000 schools educating 3 million students in 43 states and the District of Columbia.
”Underpinning the entire charter movement is the idea that with flexibility to innovate and compete for students, charter schools will deliver a superior education—one that’s tailored to the individual needs of students and parents.
“But with nearly a quarter-million students enrolled in charter high schools with an on-time graduation rate below 50 percent, it calls into question whether the sector is delivering on its mission.”
Well, yes, it does raise that question.
The Edweek coverage was funded by the Walton Family Foundation, which has claimed credit for opening one of every four charters in the nation. The Waltons will not be happy with this story.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Four year graduation rates??
What does that mean? Start with a cohort, let’s say 100 in 9th grade and what percentage of those graduated?
In this report the meaning is as you indicate. A cohort of 9th graders graduate within four years. The rates of graduation in this database are self-reported by states. EdWeek analysts eliminated “alternative high schools” because these do not have a standardized definition.
The list of Ohio schools does not include virtual charter schools like ECOT and K12 Inc. Were they also excluded?
Thanks, Laura!
Since some charter schools cherry pick, the statistic is likely even lower for privatized/corporatized ed.
I thought Johns Hopkins was a think tank with students, not a university, based on info at its education department site. Heartening to know there’s a J-H researcher who apparently has professional standards related to his title, unlike some professors.
From about 2015 to present, “selective list of grants” which J-H personnel in the education dept. identify- Gates, roughly $2.8 mil. and Arnold roughly, $6.4 mil.
Maybe this is what the Walton’s want the public to hear? Vouchers, tax credit plans etc are probably much more profitable than Charter Schools AND the foundation of lies that Charter Schools are based upon is finally starting to really crumble. The Walton family is always on top of the best new “spin” on ideas to line their already bloated coffers.
The purpose of charter schools in the modern privatization era was never about improving education outcomes, claims notwithstanding. It has always been about a toxic mix of market ideology, profiteering, and trying to benefit the few at the expense of the many. Let’s be clear, privatization advocates will not be deterred by data about education failure. The only data the deters them is failure to expand charter schools and vouchers and failure to undermine public education. That is the job of the public and the people we elect. Don’t vote for anyone who continues to support tax dollars for charter schools or vouchers.
Betsy’s Department of Ed. throws our tax dollars at charters, which supports your statement.
The question is why the “liberal voice”, as assigned by media to the Center for American Progress, promotes charter schools. Wait…CAP is funded by Bill Gates- the #1 billion dollar privatizer.
CAP is a front group for corporate suits, though they do have some good window dressing.
Charters have not only failed in their mission to get better results, they have failed to innovate. Hiring teaching temps instead of professionals is not innovative. No excuses discipline is one step away from wearing a dunce cap. It is an antiquated idea of discipline. High attrition rates are not innovative. They are shameful. Segregation is not innovative. It is regressive and discriminatory. Cherry picking students is not innovative. It is simply gaming the system to get better results. Sitting in front of a screen all day is hardly innovative. It is simply tedious, rote, inhumane instruction. Sending local tax dollars to corporations is not innovative. It is brazen capitalism that transfers a public asset into private pockets. “Reform” has failed to deliver on its promises, and all of this disruption is costing us more for dismal results.
Excellent summary-Retired Teacher.
Dr. Benson’s open letter linked by Diane on Feb. 16 makes a similar point about “no excuses”.
Even their actual innovations, wealth extraction and political corruption etc., are falling short. When it comes to educational innovations they score a big, fat goose egg.
According to the statistics in this article Indiana has 57% of its charter schools with low graduation rates.
I sent this article plus my comment to Senator Niemeyer [R-I] and Representative Chris Chyung [D-IN].
It does not matter. ‘
Truth the first victim of tyranny.
The voice of reason, of integrity, of scholarship, of
unbiased research etc etc are no longer priorities’
Only moneyed interests.
Many universities have relinquished the higher ideals of universities to become well–funded think tanks with students. The institutions’ names should change so the public understands the new direction and control.
UnKochMyCampus.org investigated the takeover at George Mason public University.
Graduation rate is a bad statistic. If people are dropping out of high school to go to work, that is far different from people dropping out because they are discouraged or frustrated with their studies. Some leave high school because they feel marginalized by the community. Others fear for their safety. How can one number describe these and other complex human phenomena?
Presently, our so-called state report card over-values graduation rate to the end that credit is granted almost without regard to performance. The one primary indicator of academic and life success, attendance, is basically ignored. The primary influence on school success, socio-economic level, is ignored.
In our district, adding in the “four-year graduation rate” as a punishable statistic came about when invading schools and dividing up kids in the name of test scores had already heavily divided up kids and thus the money for dividing them was fading: start blaming schools for not graduating kids “on time” and suddenly the money comes back in….
One of the things the article fails to examine is the percentage of students who enroll in a charter school after spending time in their home district. I can tell you specifically in our charter school 80% of our students enroll after their sophomore year of high school and on average are 3-4 grade levels behind in reading and math and at least half a year behind in credits, with many, many of them a full year or more behind in credits. This is a very common occurrence in the majority of the charter high schools in my state. If you compared the graduation rates of the district run Alternative Learning Centers you would find the same lower than district graduation rates. Because of options like ALCs and charter high schools that serve students who are behind in credits many students who would have been pushed out, dropped out or received a GED are able to get a high school diploma. A study on the 5, 6, and 7 graduation rates would be much more helpful in determining the effectiveness of these schools.
No excuses!
No excuses – as in we let district high schools off the hook for having 11th graders coming to charters and ALCs with six credits? No excuses for accepting students who have been bullied and traumatized at their home school and have large gaps in their education because of poor attendance? No excuses for students who have been out of school for chemical and/or mental health treatment? No excuses for students who have taken time away from school because they became parents too young? No excuses for our homeless students? No excuses for students on IEPs who along with their team decide a 5th or even a 6th year in high school is in their best interest (even though the school will be tagged for not meeting graduation rates) I could go on. Diane I thought you were compassionate about the needs of students…?
Peter: my district high school had a lower graduation rate because one of our favorite kids was killed in a car wreck as a sophomore. We also got penalized when a kid came in as a senior from another school and never once stepped in the school door. We even went out and tried to persuade him to come in.
This is why graduation rate is a bunch of stuff.
Roy,
Your school never promised miracles.
Charters have always promised miracles.
When they don’t get them they have a ready supply of excuses.
Roy, absolutely agree graduation rates as we currently measure them are a crock.
Peter,
80% of charter schools in Michigan are for-profit. The Detroit News described them as “brutal on Black families”. Ohio was bilked out of $1 bil. by charters.
How do grifters taking money from education tax funding ameliorate the problems you listed? Programs aimed at housing for the poor, drug treatment, parenting skills, maternity medical care, psychological services for bullying, child care for mothers in school, etc. won’t succeed because individuals and corporations have avarice.
Compassion and profit motive are seldom bed fellows.
About half the charter schools in Florida operate “for profit” and make campaign contributions to legislators. In some instances, legislators’ family members own charters.
Linda, totally agree – shut down the for profits, but recognize that it is not the case for all charters in all states. There are many charters meeting unfulfilled student & family needs that the home districts aren’t – not a judgement just the reality for some.
Peter, how about shutting down the for-profit EMOs that managemany nonprofit charters?
How about requiring a fiscal impact analysis before granting anycharter so that charters dontharm public schools, where most kids are?
How about allowing only districts to authorize charters, to be sure they are needed and have oversight?
How about capping the salaries of charter executives to align with public school salaries?
How about requiring charters to enroll the neediest kids, which was their original purpose?
How about requiring that all charter assets revert to the public schools if the charter closes?
How about requiring charter operators to repay the public schools. If they accept planning money but never open?
Peter, how about shutting down the for-profit EMOs that manage many nonprofit charters? — Diane – Yes let’s remove the EMO from the equation altogether.
How about requiring a fiscal impact analysis before granting any charter so that charters don’t harm public schools, where most kids are? — This implies that district school have a right to the students simply because they live in their service area. Have the dollars fully follow the students to any public school, district or charter, they chose. As former Minnesota State Commissioner of Education Robert Wedl reminds us, districts don’t have students; charter schools don’t have students – parents have children and they are the ones who should decide which public school their student attends.
How about allowing only districts to authorize charters, to be sure they are needed and have oversight? — I have no problem with districts authorizing charters as long as they provide them with autonomy, including full control of their budget, however I prefer to have an outside approved non-profit authorizer that does yearly reviews. Need is defined by the parent and the student not by the district school.
How about capping the salaries of charter executives to align with public school salaries? — Traditional district school superintendents also have overblown salaries and on average only still in the district for three years, I prefer a Teacher Powered model that doesn’t necessarily even have an executive director, and teachers are empowered to run the school and serve as the majority on the school board.
How about requiring charters to enroll the neediest kids, which was their original purpose? — Absolutely, the only restriction should be the capacity of the school.
How about requiring that all charter assets revert to the public schools if the charter closes? — Why should assets go to the district school, they should go back to the state.
How about requiring charter operators to repay the public schools. If they accept planning money but never open? — Again that money should go back to the state.
Diane, as I have told you many times I am not in favor of for-profit charters or for-profit management companies running them. I believe charter schools should serve all students, should have an elected school board (but I prefer teacher majority boards), should have full transparency including annual financial audits, should have annual oversight (so should district schools), should have licensed teachers, AND should receive the same funding as district schools, but I believe that students and parents should have options to attend public charter schools that provide opportunities that may not exist in their home school – why should district schools hold a monopoly?
Could you support public charter schools if they met these requirements?
Peter,
I don’t see the purpose of having two public school systems operating side by side.
It can be all the same public school system if the playing field is equal including funding. In a state like Minnesota that has open enrollment there is no difference between parents open enrolling their student in the district next door or in the charter school. As educators I think we can both agree that traditional public schools are not always the best fit for all students.
There is a national pattern in which charters drain resources and the students they want from public schools, leaving the public schools with the most expensive e to educate students but not the resources.
Have you considered opening a parallel police department? Two fire departments under different commands?
No matter how you slice it, Charters are a form of privatizatuon.
Diane, I have talked to many charter leaders, district school leaders and representatives from the Department of Education about your concerns and there is an open invitation for you to visit MN and see for yourself how it works. We’re definitely not perfect, but no education system in the U.S. is. We would welcome you to an open dialogue, what do you say?
If I get to Minnesota, I will gladly visit.
You should be aware that MN’s charter law, first in the nation, destroyed Shanker’s vision of charters as R&D labs run by unionized teachers to help public schools. It was written to take control away from schools and districts and to admit entrepreneurs and non-educators to run non-union schools.
This explains how Minnesota’s charter law created the voracious aggressive charter industry:
https://dianeravitch.net/2018/05/29/no-al-shanker-did-not-invent-the-charter-school-industry-we-have-now/
Diane, rhetoric and reality are not always the same thing. If you get to MN I’ll introduce you teachers, students, parents, district administrators & Dept of Ed folks who could tell you a different story from what you’ve heard. As far as R&D goes our school is currently mentoring four different schools, two district, one ALC & one charter on project based learning, advisory & expeditionary learning. Yesterday Avalon charter school hosted district & public charters from all over the country on how to establish Teacher Powered schools, and our school will be hosting a conference in partnership with a district school, higher ed and a private school on projects, pedagogy & play at the end of the month. R &D and sharing is happening across multiple schools you just have to look.
Peter, we have Minnesota law to thank for opening the door nationally to non-educators and entrepreneurs and union-busters.
Read what Petersen wrote.
Diane, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Continue opposing billionaires and corporate interests in public schools, fight against standardized testing, demand transparency, equity along with fully licensed teachers. I stand with you on all of those fronts, but support innovation, partnerships, and opportunities for students in multiple public education settings.
With regard to unions and charters in MN I would ask you to consider why if the vast majority of charter schools in MN have teacher majority school board why don’t they choose to unionize?
I don’t know, Peter, since that’s the Walton-Koch-DeVos goal. In mst states, teachers are not allowed to join a union, and the far-right has been hard at work for many years to eliminate unions altogether. Having a non-union workplace is not progressive. Having a school that is segregated by design is alsonot progressive. Many Minneapolis charters are segregated.
Teachers are making the choice not to unionize because they are in charge at a teacher lead school – I would say that’s more progressive.
Who are you or I to tell historically underrepresented groups that they can’t have schools that focus on their experiences and needs as long as they are still open to all? That’s not the same as forced segregation.
Minneapolis has charters designed for one race or one ethnic group.
Strom Thurmond and George Wallace would have agreed with you. They started the choice movement.
Civil rights leader, and founder of Higher Ground Academy Bill Wilson would disagree with you. Besides you know there’s a difference between forced segregation and a choice for underrepresented groups.
That’s exactly what the Southern governors and senators said!
Let families choose! No forced integration!
You and George Wallace are on the same page!
Do you deny the value of schools like this? https://www.the74million.org/article/williams-how-one-hmong-charter-school-in-minnesota-is-preserving-student-culture-raising-test-scores-and-attracting-non-hmong-students/
Not trying to be unsympathetic, but what you are describing is most district schools in Oakland and other large urban populations. Our schools have virtually every characteristic you are describing, along with poverty. And yet these district schools are expected to educate these populations with low resources and all the problems that go along with that. Your 4 year grad rate at 43.5% is about the same as our charter continuation school, Civicorps. Our other AE districts schools, like Rudsdale, do better. These schools have kids with some serious life problems like incarceration and gang membership. Grad rates are around 54% in four years.
Reblogged this on Crazy Normal – the Classroom Exposé and commented:
Another study reveals (again) that publicly funded, private-sector, make-someone-rich, corporate charter high schools have a lower graduation rate than real public high schools.
So true, Lloyd.
The marketing that goes along with charters read like trump university.
Send this article to your politicians.
Here’s Joe Biden’s take on Arne Duncan’s book. HOLY COW.
“This book merits every American’s serious consideration” (Vice President Joe Biden): from the Secretary of Education under President Obama, an exposé of the status quo that helps maintain a broken system at the expense of our kids’ education, and threatens our nation’s future.”
Arne Dun-Can’t was the gateway drug that lead us straight to DeVos. Biden is a tool of the oligarchy and I hope he does not run for POTUS.
I believe Biden is a corporate shill, but he has some really good ideas on education. All of these quotes come from 2007. Does he still say the same things today?
…………………….
Hire more teachers and pay them for smaller classes
You don’t need a doctorate to know there’s four things everybody out there knows we have to do. Every parent knows it intuitively. Got to start kids to school earlier, got to put them in smaller classes. In order to do that you need 100,000 more teachers, but you’ve got to pay teachers. The pay’s not competitive, and lastly you’ve got to provide access to college, and that costs money. And we can easily pay for it. It’s about our priorities.
Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Democratic Debate Dec 13, 2007
Laid out a $30 billion plan over five years for education
An excellent teacher should be judged by whether or not that teacher outside of the classroom improves themselves and their teaching skills. My wife got two master’s degrees and a doctorate degree. That’s merit pay. She went out and she gathered this additional knowledge, not just being a good teacher. Here’s the problem with simple merit pay, based on the principle. Who makes the decision, based on merit pay? There should be teaching excellence. We should demand more of our teachers in continuing education and participation after school and in school. But you’ve got to pay them. The idea you start teachers at $28,000, in most states, where, in the countries we’re competing with, they start off and they graduate their graduating seniors are getting the same pay that engineers are getting in those same schools. I’ve laid out a $30 billion plan over five years to 16 years of education is what our kids need. They need to start two years earlier and be guaranteed two years after school.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate in Las Vegas, Nevada Nov 15, 2007
For longer school day & school year, & 16-year minimum
I proposed it in 1987. We should go to school longer. We should have a minimum 16 years of education. We should be focusing on the socioeconomic disadvantaged, mostly minorities in inner cities. That’s something we’ve ignored. We pay no attention to it. We pretend they’re the same circumstances as every other kid in America. They start off with half. Half of the education gap exists before they set foot in the first classroom. That should be the focus.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007
$3000 tax credit for college for anyone earning under $150K
Q: Since education is a great equalizer, shouldn’t a college education be free?
A: Absolutely, positively, unequivocally. As president, that’s what I would push for. The idea that 12 years of public education is sufficient in the 21st century is ridiculous. I have a thing called a college access program. I would allow every single solitary family making up to $150,000 to be able to have a refundable tax credit of $3,000 per student. Everyone under $50,000 now qualifies for a Pell Grant. I would change them from $4,300 to $6,300 plus the refundable tax credit. It would mean every child in America, every qualified person in America, under an income under $50,000 would have $9,300 to go to any state university in their state in America for four years. But we have to change our mind-set here, and lead with early education, with pre-Head Start and Head Start. The whole Biden plan for starting early and college as well, that whole plan costs less than $18 billion a year.
Source: Huffington Post Mash-Up: 2007 Democratic on-line debate Sep 13, 2007
There needs to be performance-based pay for teachers
Q: What about merit pay for teachers?
A: The one thing any teacher can tell you is that the last person you want to judge your performance, is the administrator of the school. That’s the first thing everybody figures out if you teach. There needs to be performance-based pay. The way to do it is start at the front end. Pay those people who perform in undergraduate school. Give them the alternative to be able to go. They’d get the same pay as an engineer gets to go in and work as a math teacher, or as a science teacher. So you start performance-based pay by, in fact, paying the best- performing students who want to teach and give them a chance. Every other major country in the world is starting these students at the same salary as they start their engineers. We should be able to do that. My father used to say, “Don’t tell me what you value; show me your budget.” If you, in fact, value education, then it should be equally as important as engineering or anything else.
Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate on “This Week” Aug 19, 2007
What did biden say about Race to the Top?