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Twenty Massachusetts charter public schools ranked Number 1 in the state on various 2011 MCAS measurements, including several urban charters whose students are predominantly minority and low-income.
These charters include those that enroll children from some of the state’s lowest performing school districts, including Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Lawrence – as well as rural districts in Central and Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley. And they are outperforming schools from the wealthiest communities in Massachusetts.
Congratulations to the teachers, parents, administrators and, of course, the kids! We are proud of these Number 1 rankings because it shows that given the right opportunities, children from all backgrounds can achieve at the highest levels.
Schools that ranked first in the state based on the percentage of children who scored proficient or advanced are:
- Boston Collegiate (Boston) – Grade 10 English & math
- Boston Preparatory (Boston) – Grade 10 math
- Edward Brooke (Boston) – Grades 5, 7 & 8 English and Grade 8 math
- Excel Academy (Boston) – Grade 8 English & Grade 7 math
- Community Day (Lawrence) – Grade 6 math
- Community Charter School of Cambridge – Grade 10 math
- Hilltown (Haydenville) – Grade 7 English
- Benjamin Franklin Classical (Franklin) – Grade 8 English
- Advanced Math & Science Academy (Marlboro) – Grade 10 English
- Four Rivers (Greenfield) – Grade 10 English, Grade 12 Biology
- Francis W. Parker (Devens) – Grade 10 English
- Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion (Amherst) – Grade 4 math
- Martha’s Vineyard – Grade 10 English
- Sturgis (Hyannis) – Grade 10 English
- Pioneer Valley Performing Arts – (Hadley) – Grade 10 English
Schools that ranked first in the state based on the state’s “Growth Model,” which measures academic progress of students over time:
- Benjamin Banneker (Cambridge) 6th grade English
- Excel Academy (Boston) 5th grade English
- MATCH (Boston) 10th grade Math
- Neighborhood House (Boston) 7th grade English
- Pioneer Charter School of Science (Everett) 8th grade Math
- South Shore (Norwell) 10th grade English
The urban schools on the lists enroll predominantly minority and low-income children, who historically have achieved at levels far below students in suburban schools. More than 90% of students who attend Edward Brooke, Boston Prep, Benjamin Banneker, Community Charter School of Cambridge, MATCH, and Community Day are African American or Hispanic, while nearly three-quarters come from low-income families. Among Community Day’s students, 83% come from families whose first language is not English. At Excel Academy, 45% of the children come from families whose first language is not English. And in spite of what you may have read elsewhere, all but two of the urban schools have special needs populations ranging between 14% and 16%.
Charters have proven successful in closing the achievement gap that has plagued our education system for decades. With expansion now underway in underperforming districts, thousands more families will be able to take advantage of the opportunities charters offer.
