A 2024 study published in Education Finance and Policy finds that enrollment in one of five popular charter high schools in Los Angeles significantly improves student test scores, as well as college enrollment and persistence.
This study stands out for its rigorous research design, which credibly estimates the causal effects of attending these schools. Each of the five schools is oversubscribed, meaning more students want to attend than the number of available seats. Admission is determined by random lottery: students whose numbers are randomly drawn are offered admission, while those not selected are not. By comparing outcomes for lottery winners and losers, the researchers can isolate the causal impacts of attending the charter schools on student outcomes.
The schools serve a predominantly low-income Black and Latino population and adhere to the “no excuses” charter model. This model features extended instructional time, mandatory uniforms, strict discipline and structure, and high expectations around academic performance and college attendance. Although “no excuses” schools have recently fallen out of favor, research—including this study—continues to show their effectiveness. The authors describe their findings as showing “large positive effects of enrolling in a high-quality, ‘no excuses’ charter school on academic achievement, enrollment in any college, enrollment in any four-year college, and persistence to the second year of a four-year college” (p. 568).
(The reasons why the “no excuses” model has fallen out of favor are perplexing to me, but this is a topic for a different time. It is especially frustrating because one reason this study is possible—along with numerous other similar studies—is that no excuses schools are regularly oversubscribed, which is a direct indicator that families value them.)
This study contributes to what is now a large body of research showing the transformative potential of school choice. In the face of mounting evidence on the poor performance of Missouri schools, we should embrace policies that can lead to meaningful improvements in student outcomes, including policies that create more school-choice opportunities for our children.
