Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NC Traditional Public Schools Losing Students, While Charters, Others See Gains

North Carolina's traditional public school enrollment is 1.8 million K-12 students. KERI BROWN/WFDD

New data shows enrollment in charter schools and other education sources continues to grow in North Carolina, while enrollment in traditional public schools is falling.

The state's traditional public schools educate just a hair under 80 percent of K-12 students. That's around 6 percent less than they did nearly a decade ago. Meanwhile, enrollment in other school options is on the rise.

Charters saw the biggest bump with nearly 10,000 new students this past year. That number is expected to grow because more of them are receiving state approval and increased funding from the legislature than they did in the past.

The new statewide figures also show a rise in the numbers of students enrolling in home schools and private schools in North Carolina. There are now more than 142,000 students in home school and more than 102,000 students in private schools. 

One of the reasons for the surge in private school enrollment is the Opportunity Scholarship Program. It was created in 2013 by lawmakers to help low-income families pay for tuition costs in order for their child to receive a private education.  

The new state data raises some concerns from public school supporters. They say more money is needed to address issues such as more classroom resources and aging infrastructure, instead of directing it elsewhere. But advocates of private and charter schools say the changes reflect a growing need to offer alternatives that fit the needs of students and their families.

 

*You can follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate