Do Cyber Charter Schools Have Poor Educational Performance Outcomes?

This study examines the impact of Pennsylvania’s cyber and brick-and-mortar charter high schools on student achievement, graduation, and postsecondary outcomes. Using student-level data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the research compares outcomes between students attending cyber charter schools and those in traditional public schools. The findings reveal that cyber charter students are 9.5 percentage points less likely to graduate, 16.8 percentage points less likely to enroll in college, and 15.2 percentage points less likely to persist in college beyond one semester. In contrast, brick-and-mortar charter schools show no or positive effects on these outcomes.

Full Citation and Link to Article

Cordes, Sarah A. (2023). "Cyber versus Brick-and-Mortar: Achievement, Attainment, and Postsecondary Outcomes in Pennsylvania Charter High Schools." Education Finance and Policy, 19(3), 361-399. doi:10.1162/edfp_a_00399.