But those charters, most of them located in poor districts, still fell below the state average Watch video
Gov. Chris Christie in this January 2011 file photo.TRENTON — As Gov. Chris Christie prepares to announce new charter schools approved to open in New Jersey, data obtained by The Star-Ledger shows well over half of the state’s charter school classes outperformed their local school district counterparts on standardized tests.
But those charters, most of them located in poor districts, still fell below the state average.
Christie, who has made charter schools a key piece of his education reform agenda, could unveil the list of new schools as early as today when he visits the Robert Treat Academy in Newark, one of the state’s top-performing charter schools. A spokesman for the governor would not confirm the reason for a press conference scheduled there, but the state Department of Education has said it planned to announce the approved charter school applications on Jan. 18.
Charter schools, which are public schools operated independently of a local school district, have been increasing across the state and the nation, although experts differ on whether children in charter schools perform better than kids in "regular" public schools.
Christie touts them as a way to provide an innovative learning environment for children struck in chronically failing schools and said his office will work to open more. The state last fall received 50 applications for new charter schools.
"Last year New Jersey opened six charter schools," Christie said at a town hall in Paramus last week. "It’s going to change significantly. Hopefully that movement will continue to grow."
The report obtained by The Star-Ledger compared 2010 standardized test scores for charter schools against district schools. The scores were from grades 3 through 8, and 11th grade. That data is contained in a report expected to be released today by the state Department of Education.
The newspaper analysis shows 76 percent of charter school eighth grades outpaced performance in their districts in language arts, for example, as did 68 percent of fourth-grade classes in language arts, and 58 percent of fourth-grade classes in math. At the high school level, 69 percent of schools outperformed district classes in the language arts portion of the high school proficiency exam, and 54 percent outdid district classes in math.
There are about 73 charter schools operating in New Jersey now, most in urban areas, serving varying grade levels.
Much research has focused on charter schools. A 2009 study conducted by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University looked at charter schools in 16 states, not including New Jersey. It found that 17 percent delivered learning gains that outpaced their district, but in 37 percent, learning gains were worse than those of students in equivalent district schools.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey, in its 2010 Newark Kids Count report, said some Newark charter schools outperform state averages, as do some district schools. Some of both types of school also underperform.
"We thought it had more to do with individual schools than the type of schools," said Cecelia Zalkind, executive director of ACNJ. "I think some of the (charter school) data was very impressive, but some district data was impressive too. I don’t think it’s one-size-fits-all."
The new test score data analysis does point to successes. At the Gray Charter School in Newark, for example, 100 percent of fourth-graders were proficient or above in math, and 88.9 percent in Language Arts.
The data also reveals that many charters are struggling, however. At the Community Charter School of Paterson, for example, only 18.2 percent of fourth-graders passed language arts, and at the International Charter School of Trenton, the passing rate was 12.5 percent.
Compared to the state average, charter schools fell short in every grade. In fourth grade, for example, 25 percent of classes performed at or above the state average in language arts, and 33 percent in math.
Bruno Tedeschi, spokesman for the New Jersey Charter Schools Association, said it is unfair to compare children in charter schools — most of which are in poor, urban areas — with children in the state’s wealthy suburban districts.
"It would be great if all of them performed above the state average, and certainly there are charter schools in urban areas where kids are. But you have to remember who you’re talking about. The vast majority of (charter school) kids are disadvantaged, urban children," he said. "It’s unfair to compare kids in Newark with kids in Millburn."
He said test score date in New Jersey shows "the vast majority of charter schools outpeform district.
"In New Jersey, clearly charter schools are outperforming their districts," Tedeschi said.
Staff writers Karl DeVries and Ginger Gibson contributed to this report.