An Examination of School Choice Access, Opportunities, and Academic Outcomes in an Intra-District School Choice Program

摘要

The purpose of this research study was to explore educational options available to students beyond their prescribed neighborhood schools and examine theories embedded in the literature regarding the construct of a school choice. A large body of research suggests that the quality of the neighborhood in which a student resides is associated with his or her educational outcomes (Carlson & Cowen, 2015; Mendenhall, DeLuca, & Duncan, 2006). However, access to a variety of school choices can potentially offset the effects of the neighborhood context. The school choice options examined in this research study included charter schools, private and parochial school vouchers, and intra-district school choice. This study highlighted types of school choice opportunities that: (1) showed promise of academic success, (2) helped narrow the achievement gap, and (3) helped students transcend the ill effects of circumstances that dictate the need for better education. From a programmatic perspective, a thorough examination of academic and non-academic attributes set the stage for identifying the conditions in which economically disadvantaged students are most likely to prosper academically. Advancing knowledge about school choice opportunities and identifying attributes of school choice that yield the greatest impact on student achievement was the goal of this research endeavor. Key Words: school choice, charter school, voucher, intra-district choice, economically disadvantaged, neighborhood school.