Students stay put in charter schools

Charter school students are more likely to stay in school than their counterparts at public schools, New York City’s Independent Budget Office reports.

Charter schools also did a better job of retaining special needs students than public schools, with 64 percent of charter school students in the same school after four years, versus 56 percent of public school students. Special needs students stayed in charter schools at a 53 percent rate, compared to 49 percent in public schools.

The report showed public school and charter school students left the public school system at equal rates, but the report did not track if the students went to private schools, moved out of the district or started homeschooling.

“The IBO confirms what I’ve always known: our student retention rates are better than the city’s,” said Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz, who operates 32 charter schools.

The United Federation of Teachers released a report Thursday that found charter schools have fewer students who live in temporary housing, have special needs, or are learning English, the AP reported.

“It doesn’t matter whether a child attends a traditional public school or a charter public school, we are working to give every child the education she needs to succeed,” said Devora Kaye, a city Dept. of Education spokesperson.