This fall, Arizona celebrates its 25th anniversary of public charter schools and a movement built on a simple concept: Parents know best when it comes to choosing the right school for their children.
In 1994, Arizona became just the second state in the nation to enact a charter school law. The following year, in 1995, 67 public charter schools opened with a combined enrollment of fewer than 8,000 students.
A quarter-century later, more than 200,000 Arizona students return to class this fall at one of approximately 550 public charter schools across the state. The students are as unique and diverse as the schools they attend. Arizona charter schools educate a majority-minority enrollment, with 56% of charter students identifying as non-White.
“This is a watershed moment. We celebrate this movement’s 25th anniversary at the same time Arizona enrollment in public charter schools eclipses 200,000 students,” said Jake Logan, President & CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association. “These milestones are a credit to the vision of charter pioneers who helped chart our course a quarter-century ago, and to the charter teachers and school leaders who serve Arizona families.”
Multiple factors account for the success of charter schools in Arizona, but the leading factors cited by parents include the student-centered focus of charter schools and their academic performance. Arizona now boasts charter schools of every size and specialty, including some of the nation’s premier college prep academies, STEM specialty schools, traditional, back-to-basics schools and much more.
State and federal testing demonstrates Arizona charter students across all demographic groups are experiencing strong academic results, and charter schools are playing a critical role in closing the achievement gap among students of color. On the statewide assessment, AzMERIT, charter school students outperformed the statewide average in nearly every grade level and subject area tested between 2015 and 2018. Likewise, among charter schools that receive a letter grade, nearly 70% are “A” or “B”-rated by the Arizona Department of Education.
“Our work isn’t done,” Logan said. “Arizona charter schools will continue raising the academic bar and delivering the high-quality educational options that Arizona students and families expect and deserve. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Arizona families that have chosen a charter school, we look forward to the next 25 years!”
In the coming months, the Arizona Charter Schools Association will commemorate the 25th anniversary of our state’s charter law by highlighting impactful stories of charter schools, students and teachers improving the education landscape in Arizona.
