AS DEMAND RISES AND SUPPLY DWINDLES, UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS CLAMOR FOR NEW CHARTER OPTIONS
First-of-its-kind Report Examines Demand, Identifies Sections of Bronx, Queens as New Frontier for Charter Schools
New York – The New York City Charter School Center (“Charter Center”) today released a first-of-its-kind report, “Neighborhoods Primed for Charter School Growth,” that identifies several neighborhoods in New York City which – given the lack of high quality district school options, a limited number of existing charters and high demand for choice – would especially benefit from additional high quality public charter schools. The report points to the Northeast Bronx, Central Bronx, and communities around Jamaica and Jackson Heights in Queens as areas best primed for charter growth within the five boroughs.
As of the 2015-16 school year, only 12 of New York City’s 191 elementary and middle charter schools were located in these four communities. And yet, families in these communities submitted a combined 37,328 applications.
Today’s report is issued as demand for high quality public charter schools continues to grow in New York City. Earlier this month, the Charter Center reported the number of students on charter school waitlists increased to 48,000 for the 2017-18 school year. All this as the number of available schools left to open under the current state-mandated cap continues to shrink.
“Our city’s charter sector continues to grow because far too many parents remain desperate for high quality school options that meet their children’s needs. Public charter schools provide immediate and viable options for families and charter leaders and legislators, alike, must heed the call,” saidJames Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center. “Rather than leave tens of thousands of students stuck in failing district schools, State legislators should lift the arbitrary cap on the number of NYC charters. We also encourage the de Blasio administration to embrace charters as true partners in the public education system and work with charter leaders to create new, high performing schools in these underserved communities. Now is time for our elected officials to listen to parents and take bold action.”
Each community featured in the report exhibited a similar combination of comparatively poor performing district schools, few charter options and high charter demand. In all of these communities:
- District school performance fell below both citywide and borough averages.
- In the two Bronx neighborhoods, 2015-16 district ELA proficiency was between 14.5 and 15.4 percent below citywide averages; math proficiency was between 15 and 18 percent below.
- In the two Queens neighborhoods, 2015-16 district ELA proficiency was between 4.5 and 7.3 percent below citywide averages; math proficiency was between two and 13 percent below.
- The number of charter school applications submitted through the Common Online Charter School Application platform from families in these neighborhoods represented at least 15 percent of all applications submitted in the borough;
- Charter school enrollment in these neighborhoods represented no more than 10 percent of all public school enrollment, roughly the citywide average;
- In the Northeast Bronx Cluster and Central Bronx cluster, charter students comprise only 3.9 percent and 1.8 percent of total student enrollment, respectively.
- In the Jackson Heights Cluster and Jamaica Cluster, charter students comprise only 3.2 percent and 8.2 percent of total student enrolment, respectively.
- The proportion of children ages 9 and under is at least 10 percent of the borough total.
Only 30 additional charter schools are left to open in New York City under the current state-mandated cap. At the current pace of authorizing, the City will run out of new charters in the coming year.
To read the report, please click here.
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