Charter School Facts

"Focus on the Facts"

Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that have the flexibility to be more innovative and are held accountable for student achievement. Below are more facts about Colorado's charter schools.

Click here to download a printable charter school fact sheet by the Colorado League of Charter Schools.

• Charter schools are public schools.
• Charter schools do not charge tuition.
• Charter schools use non-discriminatory enrollment practices.
• There are no "test-in" requirements to attend charter schools.
• Currently, over 62,000 students attend the 150 charter schools in Colorado. This amounts to 7.6% of total K-12 public school enrollment in the state.
• Another 14 charter schools are scheduled to open in Colorado in Fall 2009.
• Over 40,000 students in Colorado are on waiting lists to enroll in charter schools. 
• Charter school students must take the CSAP.
• Charter schools are subject to the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
• Charter school teachers must be "highly qualified" under NCLB.
• Charter schools serve a broad range of diverse students, including low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, and students with disabilities or other special needs.
• Colorado charter schools continue to attract a variety of students and are located in diverse geographical areas across the state.
• Charter school programs and academic designs are as diverse as the students they enroll. Some charters implement longer school days, while others implement curricula specifically designed for at-risk students, gifted children, pregnant/parenting teens, juvenile offenders, and more.

Demographics
Statewide data regarding the 62,000+ students enrolled in charter schools in 2008, demonstrates diversity comparable to statewide data on traditional public schools. Currently:

• 38% of Colorado charter school students are minorities compared to 39% of the state's K-12 public school students.
• Of the 62,000+ students enrolled in charter schools: 
  • 62% are white (not Hispanic)
  • 25% are Hispanic
  • 8% are Black (not Hispanic)
  • 4% are Asian or Pacific Islander
  • 1% are American Indian or Alaskan Native

Academic Performance
Evidence of the strong academic performance of charter schools is provided by both federal and state measures of student achievement:

• In 2008, 74% of Colorado charter schools had strong enough academic performance to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), while 59% of non-charters made AYP.
• Overall, 55% of charters were rated excellent or high by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) in 2008, while 43% of non-charter public schools received that rating. The evidence is even more compelling for middle schools--63% of charters were rated excellent or high compared to 45% of non-charters.

Charter School Funding
The academic success achieved by charter schools is especially impressive in light of the financial challenges they face:

• On average, charter schools in Colorado spend $480 per student from designated per-pupil operating revenue on facilities costs.
• School districts finance their facilities using property tax, mill levies, and taxpayer-backed bonds. Charter schools generally do not receive a proportionate share of these monies. As a result, money often comes out of the classroom to pay for buildings.