Last week researchers at the CREDO Center at Stanford University released a new statistical analysis of the performance of Washington’s public charter schools. CREDO is well-known across the country for having developed a reliable virtual control record (VCR) method to evaluate public charter schools. The VCR method compares test score gains of students in charter schools with the gains of students with similar demographic and academic characteristics remaining in traditional schools.

Specifically, CREDO examined two years of learning gains of 1,027 students at Washington’s first 7 public charter schools. Their study shows that the average learning gains of students at charter schools in reading and math were greater than those of their matched students in traditional schools.

The CREDO study made some other interesting findings. Washington’s public charter schools are considerably smaller than traditional schools, so charter students receive more individual attention from their teachers than at traditional schools. Of the multiple student subgroups studied, Washington’s public charter schools perform especially well for students whose first language is not English, known as English Language Learners (ELL).

Washington’s public charter schools are understandably popular with parents. Since the period studied by CREDO, five more charter schools have opened in Washington state and student enrollment has tripled.

Washington now has a total of 12 charter schools, and 3,500 students. About 60 percent of public charter students come from low-income, minority families, families who are often assigned by zip code to underperforming traditional schools.

Next fall another public charter school will open in the Skyway area in south Seattle, and more charter schools will open in 2020.

Washington’s public charter schools are here to stay. The CREDO study shows public charter schools are a quality option for Washington parents hoping to give their children the best possible public education.