This week the U.S. Department of Education recognized Bradley International School, DSST Byers Middle School, Lois Lenski Elementary School, Slavens K-8 School, and Summit Middle Charter School as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their contribution to student achievement and reducing achievement gaps between poor and minority students and their peers. These Colorado schools were among the 362 public and private schools awarded the National Blue Ribbon distinction this year.
While we’re congratulating high flying Colorado schools, kudos to the top 10 high schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report earlier this year: D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School, Denver School of the Arts, The Vanguard School, Peak to Peak Charter School, Crested Butte Community School, Liberty Common Charter School, KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, Strive Prep-Smart Academy, STEM Middle and High School, and Fairview High School based on overall achievement, graduation rates, and achievement gaps. Give an extra hat tip to No. 6 on the U.S. News list which posted the highest mean SAT score in the state the past two years.
What do these 15 public schools recognized for achievement and equity by the federal government and a prestigious news organization have in common? It’s an important question to ask especially since Coloradans will be voting in school board elections in a couple of weeks.
Here are some hints: this type of public school dominates the list of top schools as measured by Colorado state tests and college aptitude tests. Whereas enrollment in traditional public schools is mostly determined by district boundaries, enrollment in these public schools is always by choice. Parents select such schools as the best learning environment for their children. The schools choose their own curriculum and educational approach that meets the students’ needs. Like other public schools, these schools must administer state tests and cannot charge tuition.
Think you know the answer? Ten of the 15 top schools recently recognized by the government and U.S. News & World Report are schools of choice. Eight schools are public charter schools, which operate under independent boards. The remaining two are district-run schools of choice: magnet and option schools.
Charter schools are the most common type of school of choice in Colorado. Since the charter school law was signed into law by Gov. Roy Romer, the number of charter schools has expanded beyond 250. These charter schools enroll more than 120,000 students or about 13 percent of the state total. The most recent state report on Colorado charter schools found that charter schools enroll a higher percentage of students of color and English language learners than do traditional schools and “generally outperform non-charter schools on state performance measures, overall and with educationally disadvantaged subgroups.”
That’s good news unless you’re a parent whose children are languishing on a list to get into a good school. Demand exceeds supply and some school boards are less open to opening new charter schools than others. That’s why we need reform-minded school board candidates to win this November.
It’s important to ask school board candidates what they intend to do to increase the number of charter, magnet, and options schools in the district. See if they are open to expanding choices beyond public schools from college dual enrollment opportunities to private school options. Studies show that publicly funded private school options can increase student achievement and graduation while saving taxpayers money.
The recent Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer opened the door wider to district choice programs like the one Douglas Country reformers attempted several years ago. Such a program would be upheld by the Supreme Court today. All that is needed is a few good men and women who know the value of education choice to lead the way.
Krista Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer
