Most Indianapolis Charter Schools Scored Lower Than IPS Schools On ISTEP

Chalkbeat has been comparing the performance of Indianapolis charter schools to IPS schools based on the widely-criticized ISTEP exam the state has decided to scrap. Only 29.1% of IPS students passed the ISTEP exam in 2015, well below the statewide pass rate of 52.5%. Charter schools have been a panacea for reforming public schools. Yet 15 of Indianapolis' 26 charter schools actually performed worse than IPS schools in 2015. Several of those schools have subsequently been closed.

Charter schools operated by the Chicago-based Concept Schools, which is tied to the controversial Gulen movement, were among charter school performing the worst in Indianapolis. All three Indianapolis Math & Science Academy schools in Indianapolis scored lower than IPS schools. The Carpe Diem school, which is run by IPS board member LaNier Echols, had a passage rate of just 27.7%. Other charters scoring lower than IPS schools were:

• Vision Academy
• Andrew J. Brown Academy
• Imagine Life Science Academy West
• Andrew Academy (now closed)
• Fall Creek Academy (now closed)
• University Heights Preparatory Academy (now closed)
• Damar Charter Academy
• Indianapolis Academy of Excellence
• Indianapolis Lighthouse Charter School
• Enlace Academy
• Padua Academy (now closed)
• KIPP Indianapolis College Preparatory Academy

The eleven charter school scoring higher than IPS schools included, although it's worth noting that all of these schools scored lower than the statewide average with the exception of three of the schools:

• Tindley Accelerated Schools (all four campuses)
• Paramount School of Excellence
• Hoosier Academy of Indianapolis
• Irvington Community School
• Christel House Academy South
• Avondale Meadows Academy
• Phalen Leadership Academy
• Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence