Indianapolis – Indiana public charter schools have seen an increase in enrollment in from 11,121 students in the 2007/08 school year to 23,460 in the current academic year. This represents a 110 percent increase over this time period. Further, enrollment has increased 19 percent since last school year.

Additionally, while enrollment is surging, waiting lists are swelling at public charter schools. More than 3,500 students sit on waiting lists for a seat in Indiana public charter schools, according to data compiled by the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association (IPCSA). This number includes 650 students who sit on a waiting list for a seat in The Indianapolis Excel Center and 950 students on the waiting list at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary.

“In 2009, there was an effort to freeze enrollments in charter schools,” said IPCSA President Russ Simnick. “If successful, that effort would have slammed the door shut on more than 8,000 kids who have enrolled in charter schools since then and denied them the opportunity to choose a high quality public charter school.”

The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association offers services, advocacy and support for Indiana’s 62 public charter schools. More than 23,000 students attend public charter schools in Indiana. The Association web site is www.INcharters.org.
###

Comments are closed.