Vanishing Students, Rising Scores: Middle School Charters Show Alarming Student Attrition Over Time

[proud2BlibKansan]

Much has been said about the high demand for charter schools in entrance lotteries, but little about the choices families make once their children are actually accepted. Looking at attrition rates is important because they may tell us about the choices parents make about their children’s schools. Attrition may also indicate that some students are encouraged to leave or have been expelled. And, if proficiency rates rise over time in schools with heavy attrition, those percentages may reflect the change in the student cohort, as well as or instead of academic progress.

I took a look at changes in the size of student ELA testing cohorts for the thirteen middle school charter s that have more than one year of data between 2006 and 2009.<1> Since all students in the testing cohort must take tests every year, I was able to determine whether cohorts shrink or grow over time.

As it turns out, high-performing charter middle schools in the New York City also have extremely high rates of attrition in their testing cohorts :

* Eight of the thirteen schools have enough data to allow us to examine cohort size between 5th grade, when students enter, and 8th grade, when they graduate.<2> In four of these schools, more than 25% of the students vanished from the cohort. Of these four schools, three saw cohort declines of 30%, and one lost nearly 40%. All of these charters have been nationally or locally acclaimed as great schools that are in high demand. The average attrition for this group of eight is 23%. (charts follow.)

More » http://www.edwize.org/author/jackie-bennett/

[ShortnFiery]

1. The privatization of the American School System is a national tragedy.

:(

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. It's just so damned sad

And frustrating. No one is listening.

There's a Democrat in the WH so we're in good shape. (I'm hoping I don't need the sarcasm smilie.)

[DrDan]

3. +1

so sad . . .

[ShortnFiery]

5. Yes, I hear you. The political system is broken but many good people do care.

We, the American People, are OWNED by some very large corporations who are essentially MARRIED to the government.

Until we can have free and fair elections - totally equal and public funded - we'll continue to SERVE those of the upper 1%.

It's too bad these evil ghouls are so damn greedy and want to PRIVATIZE the entire governmental system. If they are sucessful, we'll fully realize fascism.

I don't know how American's will react when the Government-Corporate owners take the last vestiges of our civil rights away but it's coming in the not too distant future.

The only hope is that I love my fellow Americans and my beloved Country ... we will get get this back but it will be difficult and a long time coming. :(

[Scuba]

8. +1

[xchrom]

4. Following these kids after they leave

Would provide interesting information.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. That's not as easy as it sounds

But yes, it would be beneficial.

[ShortnFiery]

7. As I understand this system at a basic level, this action is to increase the Test Score ...

Averages?

If so IMO, the assessment process needs a complete overhall. There are valid statistical ways to follow the individual students and then also combine this data into "a population" that will accomodate futher analyses. No, the methodologies are not simplistic but they are attainable and would serve ALL CHILDREN within the school system.

FWIW I've volunteered numerous hours to help in or local elementary and middle school computer labs as well as monitor the front areas during lunch hour. My favorite time of the day is when those children deemed "special needs" pass by. I've shook hands, talked and made buddies with many of these children. Their smiles are so warm and genuine. Thanks to efforts of many social programs and vounteers, many of these kids can go on to live semi-independently through vocational programs during and/or after high school.

Our government claims "No child left behind?" I wish. :shrug:

[d_r]

9. you could also get useful information

just comparing the pretest scores of the ones who dropped out and the ones who survived. Wouldn't even need to follow them over time I bet.

[mopinko]

10. and how does this rate of attrition compare to the local common schools?

turn over of the student body is not limited to charter schools.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. And where do they go when they leave a traditional public school?

[mopinko]

12. what does that have to do with the question?

do you have the data from the common schools to compare? kids leave schools and go all kinds of places. some go to therapeutic and alternative schools, some move with their parents, yes, some go back to the common schools. some go the parochial schools. do you have the data?