More on the Characteristics of Students Entering IDEA Charter Schools

Below is more data on the characteristics of 5th grade public school students (2009-10 school year) entering IDEA charter schools and public schools in the 6th grade (2010-11 school year).

Table 1 examines the number and percentage of students enrolled public schools in the IDEA Charter market area in the 5^th grade in 2010 that subsequently enrolled in the 6^th grade in either an IDEA Charter School or a Public School within the IDEA Charter School market area by whether or not the student passed the TAKS mathematics test. Of the original 4,658 students enrolled in the 5^th grade in public schools, 83.5% had passed the mathematics test. Since the majority of the students entered public schools in the 6^th grade, the percentage of students enrolled in public schools in the 6^th grade that passed the 5^th grade mathematics TAKS was also 83.5%. But, for students entering IDEA Charter schools, 91.2% had passed the TAKS mathematics test in the 5^th grade.

Table 1: Number and Percentage of 5^th Grade Students Enrolled in Public Schools in IDEA Charter Market Enrolling in the 6^th Grade in 2011 in IDEA Charter Schools and Public School by TAKS Mathematics Passing Status

Student TAKS	5th Grade Public		6th Grade
Performance	School Students		Public		IDEA
Level	%	%	%	%	%	%
Failed	770	16.5%	744	16.5%	26	8.8%
Passed	3888	83.5%	3617	83.5%	271	91.2%
Total	4658	100.0%	4361	100.0%	297	100.0%

Table 2 examines the number and percentage of students enrolled public schools in the IDEA Charter market area in the 5^th grade in 2010 that subsequently enrolled in the 6^th grade in either an IDEA Charter School or a Public School within the IDEA Charter School market area by whether or not the student achieved commended status on the TAKS mathematics test. Of the original 4,658 students enrolled in the 5^th grade in public schools, 37.7% had achieved commended status on the TAKS mathematics test. Since the majority of the students entered public schools in the 6^th grade, the percentage of students enrolled in public schools in the 6^th grade that achieved commended status on the 5^th grade TAKS mathematics test was also 37.7%. But, for students entering IDEA Charter schools, 49.8% had achieved commended status on the TAKS mathematics test in the 5^th grade.

Table 2: Number and Percentage of 5^th Grade Students Enrolled in Public Schools in IDEA Charter Market Enrolling in the 6^th Grade in 2011 in IDEA Charter Schools and Public Schools by TAKS Mathematics Commended Status

Student TAKS	5th Grade Public		6th Grade
Performance	School Students		Public		IDEA
Level	%	%	%	%	%	%
Not Commended	2903	62.3%	2754	62.3%	149	50.2%
Commended	1755	37.7%	1607	37.7%	148	49.8%
Total	4658	100.0%	4361	100.0%	297	100.0%

Thus, with respect to mathematics achievement, the students entering IDEA Charter Schools were more advantaged than those entering public schools. Whether intentional or not, the ultimate result is that IDEA Charter Schools skim off some of the higher performing students from the public schools.

Table 3 examines the number and percentage of students enrolled public schools in the IDEA Charter market area in the 5^th grade in 2010 that subsequently enrolled in the 6^th grade in either an IDEA Charter School or a Public School within the IDEA Charter School market area by whether or not the student passed the TAKS reading test. Of the original 4,646[1] students enrolled in the 5^th grade in public schools, 80.0% had passed the mathematics test. Since the majority of the students entered public schools in the 6^th grade, the percentage of students enrolled in public schools in the 6^th grade that achieved commended status on the 5^th grade reading TAKS was also 80.0%. But, for students entering IDEA Charter schools, 90.8% had passed the TAKS reading test in the 5^th grade.

Table 6b: Number and Percentage of 5^th Grade Students Enrolled in Public Schools in IDEA Charter Market Enrolling in the 6^th Grade in 2011 in IDEA Charter Schools and Public Schools by TAKS Mathematics Passing Status

Student TAKS	5th Grade Public		6th Grade
Performance	School Students		Public		IDEA
Level	%	%	%	%	%	%
Failed	927	20.0%	900	20.0%	27	9.2%
Passed	3719	80.0%	3452	80.0%	267	90.8%
Total	4646	100.0%	4352	100.0%	294	100.0%

Table 4 examines the number and percentage of students enrolled public schools in the IDEA Charter market area in the 5^th grade in 2010 that subsequently enrolled in the 6^th grade in either an IDEA Charter School or a Public School within the IDEA Charter School market area by whether or not the student achieved commended status on the TAKS reading test. Of the original 4,646 students enrolled in the 5^th grade in public schools, 26.7% had achieved commended status on the TAKS reading test. Since the majority of the students entered public schools in the 6^th grade, the percentage of students enrolled in public schools in the 6^th grade that achieved commended status on the 5^th grade reading TAKS was also 26.7%. But, for students entering IDEA Charter schools in the 6^th grade, 38.1% had achieved commended status on the TAKS reading test in the 5^th grade

Table 4: Number and Percentage of 5^th Grade Students Enrolled in Public Schools in IDEA Charter Market Enrolling in the 6^th Grade in 2011 in IDEA Charter Schools and Public Schools by TAKS Reading Commended Status

Student TAKS	5th Grade Public		6th Grade
Performance	School Students		Public		IDEA
Level	%	%	%	%	%	%
Not Commended	3405	73.3%	3223	73.3%	182	61.9%
Commended	1241	26.7%	1129	26.7%	112	38.1%
Total	4646	100.0%	4352	100.0%	294	100.0%

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[1] The number of students for mathematics and reading differs because not all students take or have scores for both tests. Only students with a score in that particular test were included in the respective analyses.

As shown in Table 5, very few students who enroll in IDEA Charter Schools in the 9^th grade leave the Texas public school system. In fact, for the 9^th grade cohort of 2009 (through 2011), only 16 students—6% of the original cohort—could not be found in any Texas school district in 2011. About 29% of the students in 9^th grade in 2009 ended up returning to non-IDEA school districts located in Region I. There were dramatic differences between students entering IDEA Charter schools for the first time as a 9^th grade student and students previously enrolled in an IDEA Charter School. For those not previously enrolled in an IDEA Charter School, only about 47% remained enrolled in any IDEA Charter School after two years as compared to almost 71% for students previously enrolled in an IDEA Charter School. Strikingly, over 42% of the new entrants in 9^th grade returned to a local public schools within two years.

Table 5: Number and Percentage of IDEA 9^th Grade Students in 2009 Located in Various Locations in 2011 by Enrollment in a Public School or IDEA Charter School in 8^th Grade (2008)

Location in	Not in IDEA in 8th Grade		In IDEA in 8th Grade		All 8th Grade Schools
2011	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
IDEA Charter	34	46.6%	137	70.6%	171	64.0%
Region I Districts	31	42.5%	47	24.2%	78	29.2%
Other Districts	1	1.4%	1	0.5%	2	0.7%
No Districts	7	9.6%	9	4.6%	16	6.0%
Total	73	100.0%	194	100.0%	267	100.0%

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