Georgia adds new charter schools

Georgia made a list of states with the most new charter schools, though the overall count here is low.

The state added 11 of the more than 400 new charter schools nationally this school year, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Overall Georgia has relatively few such schools, though; the Alliance counted 115.

Fifteen states had more, with California counting by far the most, at 1,234. Texas was next with 723 followed by Florida with 656, according to the group’s count. Most states, like Georgia, have fewer than 200 charter schools.

The Alliance estimates there are nearly 3 million students attending charter schools nationwide. Georgia enrolled an additional 7,000 students in charter schools this year.

Charter schools are independent public schools that get freedom from traditional school rules and, in exchange, must meet goals on measures like test scores.

To see an interactive map and chart showing growth trends for charter schools nationally, go here.