(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

We are a couple of years into West Virginia’s experiment with public charter schools, and a look at the results of the Statewide Summative Assessment for the 2023-24 school year revealed at least the two most established charter schools are making positive strides

This week, members of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board got the details of each school’s performance so far. For the two schools with results from the previous year to compare with the most recent results, there was noteworthy improvement.

Morgantown’s West Virginia Academy and the Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy in Kearneysville not only improved upon their own performances from the previous year, but outperformed statewide proficiency rates for traditional public schools.

In fact, West Virginia Academy’s proficiency rate for math was 40% and for English Language Arts was 55% for 2023-24. Eastern Panhandle Preparatory academy had a 44% proficiency rate in math and 50% for ELA. For public schools, those rates were 36% for math and 45% for ELA.

On the other hand, the West Virginia Virtual Academy and Virtual Preparatory Academy were both outperformed by traditional public schools.

PCSB member Dewayne Duncan says he believes that may have a lot to do with students still getting into the groove at the virtual academies.

“I immediately started thinking about the virtual and what might be happening is the students are adjusting to the instructional methodology being used and the strategies,” Duncan said. “They’re showing growth, which is good.”

This kind of performance is good news for the students of public charter schools and their families. But, given that those academies are receiving public money, surely state education officials are watching carefully to determine what is driving such growth and success.

After all, the tools, techniques or resources that demonstrably improve charter school students’ performance should be studied for possible implementation in the traditional public schools that still serve the vast majority of West Virginia students.

If something works, it is irresponsible not to share it in a way that benefits everyone.

Congratulations to those at West Virginia Academy and the Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy for their hard work and improved performance. Now let’s figure out how we can bring that kind of success to ALL Mountain State students.