Dive Brief:
- According to a Boston Globe op-ed by Thomas B. Fordham Institute Ohio research director Aaron Churchill, studies in Ohio and New York City have found high school graduation rates improved when low-performing schools were shut down.
- Two university researchers, Stephane Lavertu and Deven Carlson, examined the academic impact of school closings between 2006 and 2012, finding student performance significantly increased after the worst schools were shut down.
- Still, closing down a school that has not performed is generally very contentious for school leaders, school communities and politicians.
Dive Insight:
A body of research is growing to support the closure of bad schools. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute analyzed data surrounding the closure of charter and traditional public schools, asserting that closing poor-performing schools ultimately benefits students. That study looked at Ohio students at 78 charter schools and 120 district-run schools closed between 2006 and 2012, and found after just three years in a new district, students who had attended the closed charter schools did better in math.
But closing down schools means students have to go elsewhere for education, which can mean longer commutes that eat up time previously spent on play or homework. And in cities like Chicago, where potential gang territory issues can present danger to students, a physical threat can also be among the consequences of a closure.