SCHOOLS

Operating Schools

97

Total Enrollment

47,697

Fifty-six percent of Georgia charter school students qualify for the federal free or reduced price lunch program (compared to 50 percent of those in conventional public schools). Minorities make up 61 percent of charter school students in Georgia.

Resource

The National Charter School Directory offers complete listings, including school address, program description, and website.

LAW

Grade

C

Rank

14th out of 40 laws

Resource

CER's 2010 point-by-point profile of Georgia's charter law looks at approval process, operations, funding, and teacher and student provisions.

EQUITY

Funding

Funding varies based on the authorizer. Georgia's charter schools receive, on average, $7,216 per pupil, compared to the $10,356 that conventional district public schools receive.

Resource

More information on equity issues at Charter School Funding: Following the Money.

ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Test Scores

In the 2007–08 school year, 75.9 percent of charter schools made AYP compared with 68.8 percent of public schools statewide.

Charters also boasted a graduation rate of 89.9 percent in 2007 while their conventional public school counterparts only graduated 72.3 percent of students.

Closures

Charter school closures are evidence of accountability in action. As of February 2009, 5 Georgia charters have been closed, none as a result of poor academic performance

Resource

Accountability Report 2009: Charter Schools: In-depth information about charter achievement and accountability, including state-by-state analyses and closure listings.