How To Compare Charter and Traditional Schools Washington DC

1. Research Data-Depending upon the school system and the length of time a charter school has been open, there may be some research data available for people to peruse. The majority of data regarding this subject has typically been gathered through questionnaires and surveys that have been filled out on a strictly voluntary basis. How accurate is this data? The answer really depends on how the data was gathered and assessed. Because charter schools are relatively new in many states, basing a decision entirely upon research data may be misleading.
   
   
2. School Populations-When comparing traditional and charter schools, school populations should also be considered as a prominent comparison factor. Parents, administrators and educators should consider the socioeconomics of the student body as well as the ratio of males and females in each charter school in comparison to the socioeconomics and gender of nearby traditional facilities.
   
   
3. Academic Achievements-Academic standards and achievements can be difficult to track without using a set standard of criteria. While overall grade point averages (GPAs) can always be considered, very often standardized achievement test results are used as indicators for a school's success. Care must be taken when using this type of comparison, however, especially if the socioeconomics between a traditional and charter school greatly differ. In some cases, the results are issued over a set period of time, and students are tracked not only according to their initial test results but also regarding their improvement or decline in specific areas of study.
   
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Author: Susie McGee