FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Brittany Chord Parmley
916-221-8588
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) celebrates the remarkable results charter schools are delivering for public school students and families across the state. Congratulations to all of the charter schools recognized by Innovate Public Schools and the 2019 U.S. News Best Schools rankings list.
Innovate Public Schools, in partnership with the University of Southern California (USC), released a new report celebrating schools in Los Angeles County that are are closing the achievement gap for low-income African American and Latino students. Using data from the California Department of Education (CDE), the report determined that:
- 27% of the top Los Angeles County public schools are charter schools, which only served about 17% of Los Angeles public students in 2018.
- 80% of Top Public Middle Schools for Low-income African American Students in Math are charters.
- 45% of Top Public Middle Schools for Low-income Latino Students in Math are charters.
- 33% of Top Public High Schools for Low-income African American Students are charters.
- 52% of Top Public High Schools for Low-income Latino Students are charters.
The report also looked at schools in the Bay Area and found that charter public schools are having a significant impact in the region as well:
- Of the 51 schools in the Bay Area recognized as Top Schools, 29 were charter public schools, or 57 percent.
- 55 percent of Top Public Elementary Schools for low-income Latino students in Math are charters.
- 40 percent of Top Public Elementary Schools for low-income Latino students in English are charters.
- Rocketship Mateo Sheedy is one of only two schools in the Bay Area recognized as a Top School for Black students in Math and English
- 62 percent of Top Public Middle Schools for low-income Latino students in Math are charters.
- 70 percent of Top Public Middle Schools for low-income Latino students in English are charters
- 87 percent of Top Public High Schools for low-income Latino students in Math and English are charters
According to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, 4 of the top 10 California high schools are charter schools including Pacific Collegiate Charter, Preuss School UCSD, Western Charter Academy, and University High School (Fresno). Charter schools also make up about 30% of the top 100 California high schools overall.
Throughout April, California charter schools received awards for innovative programs that serve diverse student populations to achieve great academic success.
In February, 32 California charter schools were named a 2019 California Distinguished School by the CDE. These schools were recognized for their outstanding programming that has allowed them to achieve exceptional student performance or close the achievement gap between two consecutive academic years.
Also in February, three charter middle schools were named by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education as a charter "School to Watch." These schools demonstrated academic rigor, responsiveness to student needs, and equity and inclusion in their practice to produce great results for students so that they can be successful in high school, college, and beyond.
About the California's Charter Schools Association (CCSA)
The vision of CCSA is to build great public schools of joy and rigor that prepare all California students for success in college, career, community, and life. The mission of CCSA is to meet parent, educator, and community need for great public school options by supporting and advocating for high quality non-profit charter schools and sharing their success throughout California’s public schools. Learn more.