Exploring the Pros and Cons of Charter Schools

If you're considering enrolling your student in a charter school, you might have some questions. Any big decision of this sort requires careful forethought. One of the best ways to organize your thoughts is to consider all the pros and cons of charter schools. In this article, we’ll look at both sides of this innovative type of education.

A charter school is a publicly funded and independently run school that operates under a performance contract, or charter, that spells out the school's:

• Mission
• Program
• Type of students served
• Performance goals
• Methods of assessment

The schools are held accountable for their performance — and the performance of their students. Measuring this fairly is a complex task, especially when compared to traditional ways of gauging school success that often are biased and one-dimensional.

The pros of charter schools

Student achievement is the best proof that charter schools work. Here are some of the signs of that achievement and success.

Innovative teaching methods and flexibility

Charter schools have autonomy apart from district-run schools. Their own governing boards give them the option to create classroom environments that best cater to their students’ needs. This kind of flexibility allows them to implement innovative and creative teaching methods and curricula to meet the diverse needs of students.

At New Dawn Charter High Schools, we provide smaller classes to give students the attention and school resources they need. That includes implementation of IEPs and 504 plans, as well as other accommodations that help lead to more successful student outcomes.

This kind of individualized support extends beyond academic performance and includes efforts to provide social and emotional support. With NDCHS's mentorship program, students are paired with a staff member who provides guidance on the typical hurdles faced by high school students, academic or otherwise (when appropriate). Students also have access to counseling services that help mitigate the social and environmental stressors they face.

Increased parental choice

By providing an alternative to traditional public schools, charter schools offer parents more options to choose an educational environment that best suits their child's learning style and needs.

When students and their families are not confined to their district schools and have the benefit of school choice, a whole new world of possibilities opens up.

At New Dawn, we encourage parental involvement in students' success. If New Dawn isn't the right choice for their student, we would encourage them to find one that is.

Equity

New Dawn Charter School focuses on a particular student population, as do many charter schools. The students we focus on are traditionally under-served.

In New York City, Black, Asian, and Hispanic populations are statistically more at-risk for negative outcomes related to poverty. According to Robinhood.org, Latino New Yorkers were twice as likely to live in poverty as white New Yorkers (26% vs. 13%). Poverty rates were similarly elevated among Asian and Black New Yorkers (24% and 23%, respectively). This is a direct reflection of inherent disparities related to equity and opportunity when it comes to minority populations.

These disparities are often exacerbated in districts with higher rates of poverty that are given less school funding than their wealthier neighbors. When schools in districts with less funding are unable to implement educational reform, improve teacher quality, and get the materials they need, the students suffer and graduation rates plummet.

Charter schools like New Dawn provide a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between underserved populations and high school graduation rates. While the issue of district funding is complex, New Dawn and other charter schools are uniquely poised to provide at-risk populations, no matter their race or socio-economic status, with:

• Smaller class sizes
• ESL and and special education support
• Tailored academic plans

Students who are not equipped to thrive in a traditional education setting are given a better shot at successful graduation at New Dawn Charter Schools.

The cons of charter schools

On the other hand, there are a few things about charter schools that might concern some parents.

Selective enrollment and limited space

Charter schools aren't always able to accept every applicant. In the case of NDCHS, we're able to accept only students who have already been enrolled in at least one other high school. Access to charter schools can be uneven. Factors such as location, application processes, and transportation options may limit the ability of some families to opt for a charter school.

Funding implications

Charter schools receive funding based on student enrollment, and some critics say that this can reduce the financial resources available to traditional public schools. Depending on the district, it may affect the quality of education and resources available to public school students.

New Dawn, however, relieves some of this burden as it carries out its mission to help under-credited students graduate. Traditional public schools don't have the resources to accommodate the students we serve. Charter schools like NDCHS ease some of the pressure placed on public schools to give every student the resources they need to succeed. With limited capacity, New Dawn is not in a position to pull funding away from traditional public schools, but rather fill in some of the gaps in their capabilities.

School quality can differ by state

Charter schools must follow state or district regulations, and some states have stricter curriculum regulations for charter schools than other types of schools. These restrictions can affect a charter school's planning and curriculum flexibility.

The regulations governing charter schools vary by state, as does the quality of education they provide. New York State ranked 5th in the entire nation in charter school performance, according to research conducted by EducationNext.org from 2009 to 2019. While the global pandemic certainly changed the educational scene, the data showed New York State's positive track record with charter schools is fairly consistent.

The Pros and Cons of Charter Schools and the New Dawn Difference

At New Dawn Charter High School, we're committed to providing high school education to under-credited, over-aged students who are not thriving in the education system and have already attended at least one other school. To find out whether your student meets the eligibility requirements, check out our enrollment page.