Charter school students in California significantly outperformed similar students in nearby traditional public schools in reading and scored about the same in math, according to a comprehensive study of pre-pandemic test results of charter schools nationwide, released earlier this month.
The gap between California charter and district schools in reading achievement has widened since the first report 14 years ago by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University. There has been steady progress in math as well; charter schools’ scores were significantly behind in the first study in 2009.
This was particularly true when the difference in test scores was translated into learning gains or losses for multisite charter management organizations operating in California. For example, when compared with similar students in district schools, students in Los Angeles-based Alliance College-Ready Public Schools gained the equivalent of 107 days in additional learning, about 40% of a year. Students in Bay Area-based Rocketship Public Schools gained three-quarters of a year in additional learning days in math, based on CREDO’s methodology.
