INSIDE INFORMATION
BY CHLOE YOUNG
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
Understanding charter schools Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that were created by the Texas Legislature in 1995 to foster innovation and allow for more choices in the state’s public school system. Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools are fully funded by the state and receive no local revenue, such as property taxes. In The Woodlands area the charter school Thrive With Autism is opening for the 2023-24 year serving children in districts including Conroe ISD.
The process for admission to charter schools depends on whether there is space available at the school.
Admissions
Future students or parents must ll out an application with basic identifying information.
Preference in the lottery may be given to students with a sibling already admitted to or attending the school or students whose parent works on sta . If a school has more applicants than positions available, all open- enrollment charter schools are required to utilize a random lottery or admit students based on application submission order. Charter schools are open to all students, but barriers to entry can include living outside school boundaries, or having a criminal or disciplinary history.
Comparing schools
Charter schools serve about 7% of all public school students in Texas. Charter schools and independent school districts have similarities and di erences in their required rules and regulations.
Key
ISDs
Charter schools
Number of students served
Number of campuses
While charter schools receive more funding from the state overall than independent school districts, charter schools receive less public funding in total since they are not funded locally.
Funding
5.43M students Nearly 300,000 students
8,973 schools 896 schools
Public charter schools
Independent school districts $11,958* per student Local funding: $7,611 per student State funding: $4,347 per student
The similarities
The differences
$10,992 per student Local funding: none State funding: $10,992 per student
• Flexibility in designing and running charter schools • Specialized programs and models • Teacher certi cation requirements
• State curriculum standards and exams • Graduation requirements • Special education and bilingual education requirements • Financial and academic accountability
*TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET MULTIPLE ALLOTMENTS BEYOND THE BASIC PER PUPIL FUNDING. THESE NUMBERS ARE CALCULATED BASED ON AVERAGE OVERALL FUNDING FROM STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES.
In Houston, about 6.3% of all students attend charter schools.
ISDs
Charter schools
Enrollment by city
Disadvantaged student populations
Comparative to their student populations, charter schools serve a higher percentage of minority and economically disadvantaged students than independent school districts, while independent school districts serve a higher percentage of special education students.
Austin
Dallas-Fort Worth
36,586 students
115,319 students
10% of all students
8.1% of all students
Houston
San Antonio
85,536 students
48,826 students
African American students
Hispanic students
Economically disadvantaged students
Special education
Limited English pro ciency
6.3% of all students
10.8% of all students
SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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