Students, Parents Can Apply Smarter to Charter Schools as Deadlines Loom

Chicago - Free public schools, run by private non-profit groups: Charter schools are controversial. The teachers union said they suck resources and talent from traditional schools.

But while the debate rages, the head of Chicago Public Schools said there are 120,000 students stuck in failing schools, and they need better options, now!

Now is the operative word if you're thinking about a charter school for next fall. Deadlines are coming up and parents need to know their choices and their chances.

Time is running out if you're thinking about sending your students to a charter school. With 120,000 kids in failing schools, according to the head of Chicago Public Schools, a lot of parents are looking to switch.

But the choices are not all created equal, and neither are the chances.

Performing arts is one of the unique offerings at North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School, but it's the academic performance that keeps it in high demand.

“With our lottery process, all students in the city of Chicago have access,” NKO Charter Director Tanika Island said. “We do not have a screening process.”

But Island admits there are seven times more applicants than available seats at NKO.

The school has a powerful 14-year track record - about what you expect when the charter operator is the University of Chicago.

“We have lots of parents here who opt for public schools, rather than private schools, when they could afford the private option,” Timothy Knowles said. Knowles heads the university's Urban Education Institute.

The University of Chicago has four charter schools now. Getting into any of them is a crowded lottery field. But students who do, come out winners.

When the university opened its Woodlawn High School Campus, 70 percent of the incoming 9th graders could only manage 5th grade reading.

“Four years later, 98 percent of them went to four-year colleges,” Knowles said.

He said they accomplished reading improvement with boot camp.

“It was literally 8-5 for the first two years, of literacy and mathematics. It was brutal,” Knowles recalled. “I mean it was hard work for teachers, for kids. It was just brutal.”

The hard work for parents right now is getting in to those superstar charter schools. But advocates like Phyllis Locket, head of New Schools for Chicago, said almost any charter school is better than a low performing traditional school.

“We have proven that a charter school has a higher percentage and a higher likelihood of getting students into college and graduating from high school,” Locket said.

“Look at a school like Urban Prep,” Knowles said. “They would be the first to tell you, that they still have a long way to go on the ACT score front, but 100 percent of their kids are accepted to four-year colleges for the last two years in a row.”

But just try getting into urban prep now - really, try. That’s Locket’s advice.

“Parents have to keep applying,” Locket explained. “We know parents that have applied up to seven to 10 schools, and have eventually become successful.”

There's no limit to how many charter schools you can apply to at once.
Odds are better for getting into the newer ones so don't leave them off your list.
But read all about them, then go see for yourself.
“You have to do your homework. If they don't have a principal, that's a red flag. If you can't meet the teachers, that's another red flag,” Knowles said. “The only way you can have confidence that a brand-new school is going to be good is by getting to know the people who are leading and teaching in that school.”

This Saturday, Jan. 28, the New Schools Expo will be held at Soldier Field.

Operators of more than 100 charter schools will be talking to parents in person, and taking applications on the spot.

Bring your students and bring your questions. Parking is free.