Differences between Charter and Traditional Elementary Schools in Grade 3 Mathematics Performance

Examined in this study was the degree to which differences were present in Grade 3 student mathematics performance between charter elementary schools and traditional elementary schools in Texas. Archival data were obtained on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Mathematics test scores for the 2015-2016 school year. Inferential statistical analyses of the STAAR Mathematics Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance and Level III: Advanced Academic Performance indicators yielded the presence of statistically significant differences. Traditional elementary schools had statistically significantly higher percentages of their Grade 3 students who met both of these performance indicators than did charter schools. Recommendations for future research and implications of these results are provided.

Keywords: charter elementary schools, traditional elementary schools, performance indicators, STAAR. Grade 3 mathematics.