Public charter school students enroll in college at a rate about 12 percentage points higher than students in traditional districts. The gap has widened over the last decade.1
This is remarkable because public charter schools enroll more low-income students and English learners.
We analyzed degree attainment for students continuously enrolled in a public high school from 2011 to 2014.2 These students are now in their late 20s.
Even after controlling for student demographics, about 74% of public charter school students completed at least some college by 2023 — compared to 64% of non-charter students.
We analyzed degree attainment for students continuously enrolled in a public high school from 2011 to 2014.2 These students are now in their late 20s.
Even after controlling for student demographics, about 74% of public charter school students completed at least some college by 2023 — compared to 64% of non-charter students.
$12,000 to $32,000 more upon entering the workforce, versus a high school degree alone.3
A total of $61,000 to $187,000 more over the first five years in the workforce.
Nearly half the state’s alternative education campuses are public charter schools, including dropout recovery programs for a second chance at a high school diploma.
From 2000 to 2023, about 103,700 students graduated from public charter school dropout recovery programs.4
Earning a high school degree is transformative. On average, an adult with a high school degree in Texas earns $6,400 more annually than a high school dropout.3
The Texas economy could be up to $663 million larger annually thanks to dropout recovery public charter schools.
Nearly half the state’s alternative education campuses are public charter schools, including dropout recovery programs for a second chance at a high school diploma.
From 2000 to 2023, about 103,700 students graduated from public charter school dropout recovery programs.4
Earning a high school degree is transformative. On average, an adult with a high school degree in Texas earns $6,400 more annually than a high school dropout.3
The Texas economy could be up to $663 million larger annually thanks to dropout recovery public charter schools.
In the Rio Grande Valley, graduates from Vanguard Academy can immediately start high-paying jobs as welders. Others become certified nursing assistants, phlebotomy technicians, and firefighters.
Still others complete high school with Associate’s degrees already in hand — well on their way to careers in biology and engineering.
Vanguard Academy is a small district with just three high schools, but it’s among the public charter schools punching above weight in CTE. It offers 11 programs — including health science, business entrepreneurship, culinary studies, agriculture, and information technology — and embeds career readiness from seventh grade onwards.
Diana Ybañez, director of CTE and college, career, and military readiness, carefully tracks every student’s progress and focuses on the state’s highest-demand fields. More than 75% of Vanguard’s most recent graduating class completed an industry certification, which is 40% more than the statewide average.5
“Our CTE programs of study are intentionally aligned with the workforce needs of our region and our state, ensuring that students graduate with the skills employers are actively seeking,” Ms. Ybañez said. “We are preparing students not just for graduation, but for success in the careers our economy needs most.”
In the Rio Grande Valley, graduates from Vanguard Academy can immediately start high-paying jobs as welders. Others become certified nursing assistants, phlebotomy technicians, and firefighters.
Still others complete high school with Associate’s degrees already in hand — well on their way to careers in biology and engineering.
Vanguard Academy is a small district with just three high schools, but it’s among the public charter schools punching above weight in CTE. It offers 11 programs — including health science, business entrepreneurship, culinary studies, agriculture, and information technology — and embeds career readiness from seventh grade onwards.
Diana Ybañez, director of CTE and college, career, and military readiness, carefully tracks every student’s progress and focuses on the state’s highest-demand fields. More than 75% of Vanguard’s most recent graduating class completed an industry certification, which is 40% more than the statewide average.5
“Our CTE programs of study are intentionally aligned with the workforce needs of our region and our state, ensuring that students graduate with the skills employers are actively seeking,” Ms. Ybañez said. “We are preparing students not just for graduation, but for success in the careers our economy needs most.”
