Indianapolis public charter school enrollment continues to increase
The Indiana Department of Education has released school enrollment data for the 2023-2024 school year. Analyzing this data can help us understand what education options families are interested in and inform decisions that affect our evolving education system. The data outlined in this blog includes public school enrollment within Indianapolis Public School (IPS) boundaries.
Indianapolis charter school enrollment continues steady increase
Once again, Indianapolis charter school enrollment has increased, showing that families continue to enjoy access to a variety of public school options. Charter, innovation, and district-run schools are free and open to any student who wants to enroll.
A few key highlights:
- Indianapolis charter school enrollment increased by 3% from the 2022-2023 school year to the 2023-2024 school year.
- Since the first year of the pandemic (2019-2020), Indianapolis charter school enrollment has increased by 21% or by 5,127 students.
- Enrollment for all public schools (charter, innovation network, and district-run) within IPS boundaries is higher than it has been for more than a decade, indicating the growing number of school options is bringing families back to Center Township schools.
- Indianapolis charter and innovation network schools now serve 59% of all public school students within IPS boundaries.
Table: Public school enrollment within IPS boundaries by school type from 2018-2019 to 2023-2024
| | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis charter schools | 19,405 | 22,505 | 23,484 | 23,780 | 24,532 |
| Indianapolis Public Schools direct-run | 21,948 | 19,608 | 18,665 | 18,757 | 18,783 |
| Indianapolis charter and innovation network schools | 23,605 | 25,179 | 26,051 | 26,241 | 26,773 |
| All public schools within IPS boundaries | 45,553 | 44,787 | 44,716 | 44,998 | 45,556 |
Indianapolis charter schools’ ethnicity and income demographics
Included in the overall enrollment data are breakdowns of school enrollment by ethnicity and income. Data for English Language Learners and special education students has not yet been released for the 2023-2024 school year.
Table: 2023-2024 public school enrollment within IPS boundaries by school type and ethnicity
| | Black students | Percentage of enrollment | Latino students | Percentage of enrollment | Multiracial students | Percentage of enrollment | White students | Percentage of enrollment | Students of color | Percentage of enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis charter schools | 12,413 | 50% | 7,123 | 29% | 1,275 | 5% | 3,484 | 14% | 21,139 | 86% |
| Indianapolis Public Schools direct-run | 6,969 | 36% | 7,404 | 38% | 1,067 | 6% | 3,792 | 20% | 15,660 | 81% |
| Indianapolis charter and innovation network schools | 13,572 | 50% | 7,778 | 29% | 1,450 | 5% | 3,777 | 14% | 23,142 | 86% |
| All public schools within IPS boundaries | 20,541 | 44% | 15,182 | 33% | 2,517 | 5% | 7,569 | 16% | 38,802 | 84% |
A few key highlights on charter school ethnicity demographics:
- Students of color are 86% of the student population for Indianapolis charter schools.
- Within IPS boundaries, 66% of all Black public school students attend charter and innovation network schools.
- Within IPS boundaries, 60% of all students of color attend charter and innovation network schools.
Table: 2023-2024 public school enrollment within IPS boundaries by school type and income
| | Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch | Percentage of enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis charter schools | 18,603 | 76% |
| Indianapolis Public Schools direct-run | 10,922 | 56% |
| Indianapolis charter and innovation network schools | 19,841 | 74% |
| All public schools within IPS boundaries | 30,763 | 66% |
Two key highlights on charter school income demographics:
- Indianapolis charter schools serve the highest percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch than any other public school type.
- Within IPS boundaries, 60% of all public school students who qualify for free or reduced lunch attend charter or innovation network schools.
Enrollment trends show the importance of choice for Indianapolis families
The 2023-2024 enrollment trends continue to show that Indianapolis families want to take advantage of the growing number of school options available to them. The Mind Trust and EmpowerED Families recently surveyed charter and innovation school families to understand why they chose these schools and released a report on these findings. Overall, families choose charter and innovation schools for these reasons:
- Sense of community and belonging for their student.
- Personalized attention from teachers and high expectations for their child.
- Diverse teachers and staff who can connect with their students on a personal level.
- Innovative curriculum and a 21st-century approach to academic instruction.
- A safe learning environment.
Indianapolis charter school enrollment increases mirror national trends. According to an analysis of enrollment data from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, charter school enrollment grew by more than 300,000 students, an increase of 9% over four years.
The growth of charter schools in Indianapolis has strengthened the entire education system by establishing options that students and families want. Charter schools are attracting families back to public schools in Center Township, as evidenced by the record amount of total public school enrollment within IPS boundaries this year. Our community should continue to support the growth and sustainability of charter schools to ensure as many students and families as possible have the privilege of selecting a school that best meets their needs.
The Mind Trust is proud to support the growth of high-quality charter and innovation schools in our city, with investments in additional campuses of proven networks, support to sustain existing schools and work to grow great school leaders. This year’s enrollment data bolsters our belief that families want and deserve to enroll their children in the school that best fits their needs and unlocks their full potential.