Still a Good Investment: Charter School Productivity in Nine Cities

Authors

Alison H. Johnson, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Josh B. McGee, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Patrick J. Wolf, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Jay F. MayFollow
Larry D. MaloneyFollow

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

11-2023

Keywords

return on investment (ROI), efficiency, funding, budgets

Abstract

Charter schools are public schools that operate free from some government regulations in return for a commitment to achieve a set of student outcomes specified in their charter. Nearly 8,000 public charter schools enrolled 3.7 million students in the U.S. in 2020-21. Our team has studied charter school funding across the United States since 2005, consistently finding that, in major cities, charter schools receive less funding per pupil compared to traditional public schools (TPS). We have also found that charter schools use their funding more efficiently, achieving better short- and long-term outcomes per dollar invested, relative to TPS.

Citation

Johnson, A. H., McGee, J. B., Wolf, P. J., May, J. F., & Maloney, L. D. (2023). Still a Good Investment: Charter School Productivity in Nine Cities. School Choice Demonstration Project. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/scdp/89