Charter Schools in the City of St. Louis Show Success

New test results released today prove that charter schools are a strong alternative for a quality, free public education for students in the City of St. Louis.

Results from the Missouri School Improvement Plan, or MSIP5, were released today. It's the first year that public schools throughout the state are being evaluated by new standards.State education leaders intend to use three years' worth of testing data to decide on a district's accreditation.

The results for charter schools, in particular, are really encouraging.  The MSIP5 charter school results are proof that kids can and want to learn and that educators want to teach and lead in a city where innovation and entrepreneurialism are supported.  The result is good education options for families who want to live in the City of St. Louis and for the City's current 49,000 school-aged children.

"Families have access to good public schools in a City that is affordable, vibrant and welcoming," said Mayor Francis Slay.  "Our kids are our priority, and these results show that our process for approving public charter schools works."

Charter schools are free public schools that operate independent of the St. Louis Public School District.  The charter schools supported by Mayor Slay, recognized as quality schools using the MSIP5 standards, are:

• City Garden Montessori (100)
• Gateway Science Academy (middle and high schools; 87.9)
• KIPP Inspire (85.7)
• North Side Community School (100)
• St. Louis Language Immersion (French, Spanish and Mandarin schools; 75)
• Grand Center Arts Academy (middle and high schools; 98)