About one in 80 public school students in Texas attends a charter school. The charters serve a higher-than-average proportion of at-risk and minority children, but they also fail them at an even higher rate.

Perhaps that’s because teachers at charter schools tend to be less experienced, less qualified, and have three times the turnover rate.

The figures on this page are based on the Texas Education Agency’s figures for 2002, the latest available.

For more information, see the Texas Education Agency Web site at www.tea.state.tx.us.

 

Texas Charters

All Texas Schools
(Excl. Charters)
STUDENTS: Fall 2002 T.E.A. Data
Total Students

53,988

4,259,864
% African-American

40.1

14.3
% Hispanic

39.7

42.7
% White

18.6

39.8
% Other

1.7

3.2
% Econom. Disadvan.

60.8

51.8
% At Risk

49.9

40.1
TAAS RESULTS: % Students Passing – All Grades (Spring 2001)
All Tests Taken

55.7

82.2
African-American

45.6

72.0
Hispanic

55.7

75.6
White

68.9

90.4
Econom. Disadvan.

51.7

73.7
TEACHERS: Snapshot 2001 Report: 200-2001 T.E.A. Data
Average Years Experience

4.6

12.0
% With Over 5 Yrs. Exp.

25.3

65.1
% With Advanced Degrees

13.1

24.0
Teacher Turnover Rate

51.2

15.8

This article appears in April 4 • 2003.

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