Georgia experienced a 9% increase in charter school enrollment
Wednesday, Sept. 22
According to state-level data analyzed by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in a new report,听, Georgia鈥檚 public charter school enrollment grew by听9%听辞谤听6,973听students during the 2020-2021 school year. Charter schools in Georgia were also the only public schools to grow their enrollment during that time period. This trend is likely to continue. New statewide听听蝉丑辞飞蝉听65%听of Georgia鈥檚 registered voters support public charter schools. 听
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Nationally, enrollment in public charter schools increased by听7%, or almost 240,000 students, from the 2019-20 school year to the 2020-21 school year. By contrast, district public school enrollment dropped by 1.4 million students, the largest decrease in more than a decade. In Georgia, traditional public schools experienced a nearly 3%听decline.
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鈥淲e believe more Georgia families chose to send their children to public charter schools during the pandemic because charters listened to their local communities when deciding whether to deliver virtual, in-person or hybrid learning options,鈥� said听Tony Roberts, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. 鈥淐harter schools have the ability to move quickly to meet the individual needs of their students. Many have also provided additional services and supplies to families in need during this challenging time.鈥�
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In 2020, the COVID pandemic forced schools of all types to close their doors and switch to remote learning. Many families were dissatisfied with the quality of learning options available to their children, and that dissatisfaction led them to pursue other available educational options. For many families, charter schools鈥� nimbleness and flexibility made them the right public school choice.听听
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鈥淎s Georgia鈥檚 largest public school, GCA is proud that we have been able to offer our students and their families educational continuity in a results-focused environment during this challenging time,鈥� said Angela Lassetter, Superintendent of Georgia Cyber Academy. 鈥淲e are grateful that we had the ability to expand and serve more of Georgia’s families when they needed a safe and high-quality educational option the听most and for the support of our board,听authorizer, faculty, and staff to听do so.听 Our proven best practices for virtual learning have not only led to enrollment growth, but to continued gains in academic performance despite the many challenges presented during this pandemic.
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According to data published by the Georgia Department of Education, both state and local charter schools experienced an increase in enrollment during the 2020-2021 school year. However, the enrollment growth was most noticeable in state charter schools authorized by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. Between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years, state charter schools experienced a more than听16%听increase.
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鈥淚n these extraordinary times, families want options that meet their students鈥� unique learning needs,鈥� said Lauren Holcomb, Executive Director of the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. “As public schools of choice, state charters have served as a vital public resource听 and met unprecedented demand from communities seeking innovative, quality options for their students.鈥�
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State charter schools with notable enrollment increases between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years include Ethos Classical听(90.9%), Genesis Innovation Academy for Boys (18.4%), Georgia Cyber Academy听(28.7%),听Resurgence Hall Charter School (17.6%) and Utopian Academy for the Arts听(53.7%).
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Enrollment grew by more than听3%听in Georgia鈥檚 locally-approved charter schools during the same time period. Atlanta Public Schools (3.9%) and Chatham (19.3%), Clayton听(271.9%), Fulton (8.1%), Douglas (0.7%)听and Greene counties (3.8%) all experienced charter school enrollment growth.
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Georgia is one of 42 states that saw increases in public charter school enrollment during the 2020-2021 school year.
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鈥淐harter school enrollment grew in nearly every state 鈥� and this trend is not slowing down. Families are voting with their feet as they seek out more and different public school options for their children,鈥� said听Nina Rees, President & CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. 鈥淚t is wonderful to see the data prove what I hear from families of charter school students every day: Public charter schools are answering their call.鈥澨�
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Rees听continued, 鈥淭here is a strong and growing demand for charter schools. In state after state, families are enrolling their children in these innovative, student-centered public schools. Charter schools are an important part of the public education ecosystem. Without them, overall public school enrollment declines would have been far worse, and many families would have suffered even more during this time of unprecedented challenge.鈥澨�
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About Georgia Charter Schools Association
The听Georgia听Charter听Schools Association is a nonprofit membership organization for听Georgia鈥檚 public听charter schools and petitioners. 91桃色视频听supports, fosters, and advocates for the development of high-quality public charter schools and networks that improve opportunities for Georgia students. We believe every child in Georgia should have equal access to a high-quality, transformative public education.
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Charter schools are public schools, free, and open to all. They do not have selective enrollment processes. Charter schools are publicly funded by local, state, and federal tax dollars based on enrollment, like other public schools, and are held to the same academic standards that all public schools are required to meet. In addition to operating as public schools, charter schools are also responsible for adhering to the promises laid out in their charter agreement鈥攁nother layer of accountability. The charter school鈥檚 authorizer is responsible for enforcing these rules. If they don鈥檛, the charter school will no longer serve students and families. All charter schools are held directly accountable by their families and communities, in addition to public school standards.听听
CONTACT: Michelle Wirth
Senior Director of Communications
Georgia Charter Schools Association
470-233-6682
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