[WardFive] Fwd: For Immediate Release: New Report Examines Student Enrollment at DC Public Charter Schools

Begin forwarded message:

From: "PCSB Communications" <communications@dcpcsb.org>
Date: May 11, 2015 at 2:01:04 PM EDT
To: <ward5coe@gmail.com>
Subject: For Immediate Release: New Report Examines Student Enrollment at DC Public Charter Schools
Reply-To: communications@dcpcsb.org

Press Release  3333 14th Street N.W., Suite 210 Washington, DC 20010 Phone: 202-328-2660 www.dcpcsb.org     For Immediate Release: Monday May 11, 2015 Contact: PCSB Communications, communications@dcpcsb.org   New Report Examines Student Enrollment at DC Public Charter Schools "Making the Choice" is PCSB's First Comprehensive Look at Where Charter Students Attend School       Washington, D.C.—Students enrolled at DC public charter schools reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, according to a report released by the DC Public Charter School Board.   At least forty-eight percent of public charter school students in grades PK3-12 (16,011) attend a public charter school in their home ward while, forty-six percent of public charter school students in grades PK3-12 (15,565) attend school outside their home ward.  A remaining 2,096 students (six percent of the total) did not have an identifiable home ward.   PCSB also analyzed the average distance PK3-12 students travel to public charter schools.  For 47 schools (45% of total schools), students travel an average 1 to 2 miles.  For the remaining schools, student travel an average of less than 1 mile or greater than 2 miles.     "Charter schools offer students an important choice.  Families can decide if they want to attend a Montessori program in Ward 5 or a college prep program in Ward 8," said Scott Pearson, Executive Director of PCSB.  "This report shows that public charter schools attract families that live all over the city."      Charter school students who live in Wards 3 and 2 attend public charter schools outside their home Wards in the highest percentage with 100% and 90% respectively. This is not unexpected since only one public charter school is located in these Wards.  Wards 4 (43%) and 5 (47%) have the lowest percentages of public charter school students attending public charter schools outside their home Ward, according to "Making the Choice," the DC Public Charter School Board's first comprehensive analysis of where the 33,672 PK3-12 public charter students attend school.        One interesting finding of the study is that 1,677 attend a Ward 7 or 8 public charter school but live in Wards 1-6.   Indeed, at five schools located in Wards 7 or 8 more than a quarter of their students in in one of the other six Wards:  Friendship PCS – Blow-Pierce Elementary, Friendship PCS – Blow-Pierce Middle, Friendship PCS – Collegiate Academy, AppleTree Early Learning PCS –Oklahoma Ave, and SEED PCS of Washington, DC.   Darren Woodruff, Board Chair of PCSB said, "many assume that students only travel west across the Anacostia river to attend school, but this report shows that more than 1,600 students travel from around the city every day to attend a school in Wards 7 and 8.    Of the 105 public charter schools included in the analysis: Eleven "Tier 1" public charter schools have more than half of their students coming from outside the Ward of the school, e.g. BASIS DC PCS located in Ward 2. Eleven "Tier 1" public charter schools have more than half of their enrollment living in the same Ward as the school, e.g. Achievement Prep PCS - Wahler Place Middle located in Ward 8.  Maps of student populations at each public charter school campus can be found here: http://www.dcpcsb.org/new-report-examines-student-enrollment-dc-public-charter-schools    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 37,000 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at dcpcsb.org. # # #

This message was sent to ward5coe@gmail.com from: PCSB Communications, communications@dcpcsb.org, DC Public Charter School Board | 3333 14th Street NW Suite 210 | Washington, DC 20010