Nearly 120,000 English language learners (ELLs) attend Texas public charter schools. That's 31% of all charter school students, compared to 22% of all public school students statewide. Texas public charter schools are helping English language learners gain crucial language skills more quickly — and achieve college and career success.

ELLs in Texas achieve language proficiency faster when they attend public charter schools, according to a 2023 study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, despite starting with similar skill levels.*

*Deven Carlson. Charter Schools and English Learners in the Lone Star State. Washington, D.C.: Thomas B. Fordham Institute (May 2023). 
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/research/charter-schools-and-english-learners-lone-star-state

ELLs in Texas achieve language proficiency faster when they attend public charter schools, according to a 2023 study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, despite starting with similar skill levels.*

If Texas public charter schools were their own state, their ELL students would rank #1 in the U.S. for performance on the NAEP reading exams for fourth and eighth graders in 2022.**

If Texas public charter schools were their own state, their ELL students would rank #1 in the U.S. for performance on the NAEP reading exams for fourth and eighth graders in 2022.**

These language gains translate into higher growth rates on STAAR exams. Compared to their peers statewide, more ELLs at Texas public charter
schools made progress across all subjects (77% vs. 72%) and in reading (82% vs. 77%).***

ELLs and former ELLs who were enrolled at Texas public charter schools in high school earn about $2,000 more annually in their early careers, according to a 2023 study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

ELL graduates from Texas public charter schools are twice as likely to have completed rigorous Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual credit courses.***

*Deven Carlson. Charter Schools and English Learners in the Lone Star State. Washington, D.C.: Thomas B. Fordham Institute (May 2023). 
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/research/charter-schools-and-english-learners-lone-star-state

ELL graduates from Texas public charter schools are twice as likely to have completed rigorous Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual credit courses.***

Those advanced skills put more students on track for college. ELLs who graduate Texas public charter schools are twice as likely to meet the state standard for college readiness and to enroll in higher education.***

*** 2021-22 Texas Academic Performance Reports (Standard Accountability Campuses)

*Deven Carlson. Charter Schools and English Learners in the Lone Star State. Washington, D.C.: Thomas B. Fordham Institute (May 2023). 
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/research/charter-schools-and-english-learners-lone-star-state

Those advanced skills put more students on track for college. ELLs who graduate from Texas public charter schools are twice as likely to meet the state standard for college readiness and to enroll in higher education.***

*** 2021-22 Texas Academic Performance Reports (Standard Accountability Campuses)

Tiffany Thai is a 12th grader at YES Prep West in Houston who speaks Vietnamese at home and entered school as an emergent bilingual student. She has since transitioned out of the program and excels in four Advanced Placement classes: English Language, Government, Environmental Science, and Calculus. She's also a longtime member of the orchestra program, where she plays violin.

Tiffany appreciates how YES Prep West is a small community where she receives extra individualized
attention and support — a place where people care for each other.

Brenda Alcantar, the lead English and ESL teacher at Premier High School - El Paso (Eastpointe), created a welcoming community for ELLs called Mi Amigos. Students go on field trips, share meals, participate in game nights, and attend college and career fairs together. Ms. Alcantar also organizes events for families to help them share in — and support — the students’ success.