Abstract: This paper investigates how the introduction of charter schools in North Carolina affects the performance of traditional public schools on statewide assessments. Using end-of-year test scores for grades three through eight from North Carolina's state testing program, researchers found that charter school competition raised the composite test scores in district schools, even though the students leaving district schools for the charters tended to have above average test scores. The introduction of charter schools in the state caused an approximate one percent increase in the score, which constitutes about one quarter of the average yearly growth. The gain was roughly two to five times greater than the gain from decreasing the student-faculty ratio by 1.
Resource Type: Research/ Reports (Non Federal) Resource Format: PDF File Target Audience: Authorizers, Founders, Parents, Policy Makers, Researchers Resource Topic: Assessment, Impact of Charter Schools, Effectiveness of Charter Schools
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