A recently issued by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a non-profit educational think tank, indicates that more than 1.7 million American students attend what the report terms 鈥減rivate-public schools鈥 鈥 that is, public schools where low-income students make up less than 5% of the student body.
The Fordham Institute report criticizes these 鈥減rivate-public schools,鈥 arguing that they go against the ideal of a public education system whose doors are open to everyone. The report will likely spark vehement reactions both from those who share its support of school choice reforms and those who do not.
This report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute discusses bad schools.
The Report鈥檚 Findings
Geographic Disparities
The accompanying the Fordham Institute analysis highlights the fact that the percentage of students attending 鈥減rivate-public schools鈥 varies from state to state. Some states boast high percentages of students attending 鈥減rivate-public schools,鈥 such as:
- Connecticut: 18%
- New Jersey: 17%
- South Dakota: 16%
- Arizona: 14%
- Massachusetts: 12%
However, in other states, no more than 1% of children attend 鈥減rivate-public schools.鈥 The states with less than 1% of children attending 鈥減rivate-public schools鈥 are:
- Florida
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
Racial Disparities
White and Asian students appear to be disproportionately represented in 鈥減rivate-public school鈥 populations, while African-American and Latino students are under-represented. The press release accompanying the report notes that while African-American students make up 17% of public school students nationwide, they comprise only 3% of