Why Indianapolis Needs more Excellent Charter Schools

In Indianapolis, charter schools show great promise. During the 2008-2009 school year, Mayor-sponsored charter schools comprised only 7 percent of all public schools in Indianapolis but made up 6 of the top 10 schools showing the most academic growth.  Additionally, only three public high schools in all of Indianapolis, including both urban and suburban high schools, met federal academic accountability standards in 2008.  All three were Mayor-sponsored public charter schools.  With the launch of the Charter School Incubator, we have an opportunity to bring national talent into the city to build on our past successes. 

But we still need more high-quality seats. Though enrollment and quality continue to grow among Indianapolis charter schools, parental interest and demand far exceed the supply of available seats, with hundreds of students on waiting lists year after year at Mayor-sponsored charter schools.  Simply put, the current growth trajectory of high quality seats is woefully inadequate to meet the immediate and pressing needs of Indianapolis students. 

Our Charter School Incubator is changing that by bringing talent from across the country into Indianapolis.