National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Salutes 15 Charters on Newsweek's List of Top 100 U.S. High Schools

Charter High Schools Represent Only 5 Percent of All High Schools, but 15 Percent of the Most Rigorous Top Performers

WASHINGTON, June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today congratulates the 15 public charter schools named among the nation's 100 best high schools, according to Newsweek's 2010 listing. Charter high schools compose roughly 5 percent of high schools nationwide, but according to this list, represent 15 percent of the country's top performing high schools.  During the 2008-2009 school year, approximately 400,000 charter school students were enrolled in grades 9-12, compared with approximately 14,000,000 students enrolled in the same grades at traditional public schools.  

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"These are impressive results," said Nelson Smith, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "Students and families have high aspirations – and charter high schools have the freedom to create innovative, high-expectations schools like these. Policymakers should provide the resources needed so great charter schools can expand and replicate – and serve many more students."

Newsweek's list is compiled by taking the total number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge (AICE) tests given at a school each year and dividing that by the number of seniors graduating in May or June.  Annually, the list is based on the previous year's data; the 2010 list has each school's numbers for 2009. Newsweek has published national lists based on this formula in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Rankings for all 1,623 schools and methodology for the report can be viewed on Newsweek's website.

The public charter schools on Newsweek's The Top of the Class List include:

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (Alliance) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement. More than 1.6 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools