Washington, D.C. — The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) and Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced the annual quality ratings for public charter schools, which show that students in nearly every Ward of the city are achieving at high levels in top-performing Tier 1 schools.
The number of students educated by these schools (including their early childhood programs) in 2014 is 12,437, a nine percent increase from the previous year, and the highest number ever of students attending Tier 1 charter schools.
As students in DC continue to attend public charter schools – 44% of all DC public school students in 2014 – judging the quality of the education programs becomes increasingly important.
There are 22 public charter schools rated Tier 1 on the 2014 Performance Management Framework (PMF). The PMF measures how well charter schools prepare students for college, improve their math and reading skills, and other metrics of school performance. Since every charter school offers a unique program, the PMF takes schools ranging from a boarding program to Chinese language immersion to Montessori, and others, measures them on common metrics and gives the school an overall score.
This year, 16 elementary/middle schools and six high schools earned Tier 1 status based on their performance during the 2013-14 academic year. Seven schools received this high-performing designation for the first time, while 10 charter schools have been Tier 1 for all four years that the PMF has been in existence. (See chart below for more detail.)
The results this year also show that there are quality charter programs across the city serving a range of students:
The top 10 Tier 1 schools come from almost every part of the district - Wards 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 – and five of them are middle schools.
Eight of the top 10 schools serve between 75% and 100% low-income student populations (measured by free and reduced lunch status).
Seven of the top 10 schools serve more than 90% African American student populations.
Just five schools, or fewer than 10% of all rated schools, were rated Tier 3. Most schools rated Tier 3 in previous years have either improved or closed.
“This is tremendous news and it is evidence that charter school quality is continuing to grow,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. "Parents have come to rely on the Performance Management Framework, designed by the DC Public Charter School Board, to help find a quality choice for their child’s education."
“As the city’s sole authorizer, we aim to open charter schools that add to the quality and diversity of the DC education landscape. Today’s results show that this is happening,” said PCSB Board Chair John H. “Skip” McKoy.
“The range of charter schools across the city rated as Tier 1, and the broad spectrum of students they serve, rebuts the claims that charter schools have somehow focused on higher income students or haven’t addressed the achievement gap,” said PCSB Vice Chair Darren Woodruff.
Especially notable this year is the performance of Center City PCS – Congress Heights. The school, located in Ward 8, was Tier 3 in 2011. Now, it is Tier 1 – the only charter school to ever move up by two tiers. “Their school leadership deserves enormous credit for this great improvement, said PCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson.
Since the first announcement in 2011, the PMF has significantly shaped the DC charter sector, creating a standard by which new charter schools open with the aim to be “Tier 1 on Day 1.” It has also influenced how parents search for schools, with many openly seeking an available seat at a Tier 1 school. And it has encouraged schools to constantly examine their academic strategies to increase student performance and parent satisfaction.
(For schools that serve several grade levels, the scores in the school listings only reflect results from the corresponding grade levels – either elementary/middle or high school.)
(*Schools that have been Tier 1 for four straight years)
(^Schools new to Tier 1 this year)
(N/A: School was not open or not eligible for a Tier because it was in its first year of operation
Tier 2 schools – 37 total
(For schools that serve several grade levels, the scores in the school listings only reflect results from the corresponding grade levels – either elementary/middle or high school.)
(N/A: School was not open or not eligible for a Tier because it was in its first year of operation)
Tier 3 Schools – 5 total
(For schools that serve several grade levels, the scores in the school listings only reflect results from the corresponding grade levels – either elementary/middle or high school.)
Student Progress
How well a charter school improves a student’s reading and math skills can carry a significant weight on the PMF. Schools with the highest median growth percentile (MGP) are doing the most with their students to improve individual performance from one year to the next. Below are schools with the highest median growth percentile results:
5-Year Graduation Rates
While we often think of high school as a four year program, many students need extra time to complete this important step toward future success. These five schools have made great gains in keeping students who needed extra time and seeing them through to earning a high school diploma.
Student Reenrollment
Charter schools are schools of choice, open to all. High reenrollment rates often indicate high levels of parent and student satisfaction with the school. The schools with the highest rates are below:
About PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB oversees 61 public charter schools on 112 campuses serving more than 38,000 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at dcpcsb.org.