Houston Ranks #4 in Top Ten of Public Charter School Communities by Enrollment

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --.Houston ranks #4 in the nation
for public charter school enrollment with 29,889 students attending public
charter schools, according to the annual Top 10 Charter Communities by Market
Share report released by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
today.

Demand remains strongest in urban areas - and as a result, charter "market
share" is growing rapidly in cities and adjacent suburbs, even while the
overall number of students remains a modest portion of nationwide enrollment.

"Charter schools are working at scale in a growing number of American cities,"
according to Nelson Smith, President and CEO of the National Alliance for
Public Charter Schools. "Chartering is becoming well-established as a key
component of the public education delivery system," he added.

The report finds:

-- 10 Districts Enroll 22% of Charter Students: The 10 districts with the
largest number of students in public charter schools represent 22% of
the total public charter school population nationwide, a total of
304,494 students out of roughly 1.4 million.
-- Charter Growth Remains Strong: There are 14 communities where more
than
20% of public school students are enrolled in charters, six more than
in
2005-06. 72 communities now have at least 10% of public school
students
in charter schools, 27 more than three years ago.
-- More than 1/3 of Public School Students in Charters in Three Cities:
Public charter school market share breaks 30% of students in Detroit
(at
32%), Washington, D.C. (36%), and New Orleans (57%).

-- New Orleans Remains at #1 in Market Share Percentage: Not only are
charters in New Orleans serving a higher percentage of public school
students - 57% - than anywhere else in the nation, they are also the
highest performing sector of public schools in the city. More
importantly, the city's public schools as a whole are outperforming
the
pre-Katrina system.

"The public charter school enrollment number for Houston represents a 14%
market share. These innovative, independent schools are having a tremendous
impact on the lives of nearly 30,000 children," said Anna Nicotera, Director
of Research and Evaluation for the National Alliance for Public Charter
Schools.

The "Top 10" communities with the greatest number of students enrolled in
public charter schools are: Los Angeles, CA (59,122), Detroit, MI (43,035),
Philadelphia, PA (32,579), Houston, TX (29,889), Chicago, IL (28,973),
Washington, D.C. (25,729), Miami-Dade County, FL (23,865), New York City, NY
(21,367), New Orleans, LA (20,068), and Broward County, FL (19,867).

The "Top 10" largest market share public charter school communities (including
ties) are: New Orleans, LA (57%); Washington, D.C. (36%); Detroit, MI (32%);
Kansas City, MO (29%); Dayton, OH (27%); Youngstown, OH (26%); St. Louis, MO
(25%); Flint, MI (24% ); Gary, IN (23%); Phoenix Union High School District,
AZ (22%); and Minneapolis, MN (22%).

To see charter school market share data by state, visit the Public Charter
Schools Dashboard at http://www.publiccharters.org/dashboard/students/.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (www.publiccharters.org) is
the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school
movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high performing charter
schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority
families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. Today,
over 1.5 million students attend more than 4,900 charter schools in 39 states
and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Sarah Johnson of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools,
+1-202-521-2826, pressroom@publiccharters.org