The charter school boosters over at the corporate education reform think tank, Fordham Foundation took issue with our post showing that 97 of the bottom 100 schools in Ohio were charter schools.
Recent blogs by William Phillis of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding (posted on Diane Ravitch’s website) and Join the Future highlight the academic woes of some of Ohio’s charter schools. Phillis writes: “The Department of Education’s ranking of schools and districts reveals that 83 out of the bottom 84 schools are charter schools.” Join the Future exclaims “Out of the bottom 200 districts, just 21 are traditional public schools, the remaining 179 are charter schools!”Both authors make spurious comparisons that ought to be dismissed. Both make the mistake of comparing the performance index scores of charter schools to school districts.
Of course, this is apologetic nonsense designed to once again deflect from the truth, as Steve Dyer points out in response
Most importantly, though, is that Ohio law treats Charters as if they are School Districts for funding and accountability purposes. They are paid like School Districts. They are considered Local Education Agencies for federal funding purposes, just as School Districts are. They are required to have Superintendents and Treasurers, just like School Districts. They have boards that oversee them, just like School Districts. They are, under law, School Districts.In addition, only one School District did not lose money or students to Charters last year. And 47% of all kids in Charters last year did not come from a Big 8 Urban School District. If Charters take kids and money from every School District, why should they only be compared with 8 of them, especially when 47% of the kids do not come from there?
Dyer goes on to further point out that the worst charter schools are far worse than the worst traditional public schools
One more thing: The average Performance Index score of the bottom 23% of School Buildings (710 total) is 79.54. The average Performance Index score of the bottom 23% of Charter Schools (the 61 in Churchill's calculation) is 62.57.
But let us be charitable and cast aside these differences, and instead of ""wallowing in the dreggs of charter failure" as Fordham claims, lets bask in the glory of excellence. Let's take a look at the top 200 schools in Ohio, and let's compare traditional schools to charter schools. Building to building, not districts as Churchill complained about.
What do we find? Once again we find traditional public schools far exceeding the performance of charter schools. Out of the top 200 school buildings in Ohio, 197 are traditional public schools, and only 3 are charter schools!
If you want to look for models of excellence in Ohio schools, you need to look at traditional schools, not charter schools!
Here's the list of the top 200 performing schools as ranked by ODE
| 2013 PI Ranking | District Name | School Name | School Org Type | School Type | 2013 Grade Span |
| 1 | Steubenville City | Wells Academy | Public School | Elementary School | P,K,1-7,SN |
| 2 | Madeira City | Madeira High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 3 | Mansfield City | Mansfield Spanish Immersion School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4,P |
| 4 | Indian Hill Exempted Village | Indian Hill High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 5 | Dublin City | Dublin Jerome High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 6 | Oakwood City | Oakwood High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 7 | Oakwood City | Julian & Marjorie Lange School Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K |
| 8 | Solon City | Solon High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 9 | Columbus Preparatory Academy | Columbus Preparatory Academy | Community School | Elementary School | K-12 |
| 10 | Independence Local | Independence High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 11 | Aurora City | Aurora High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 12 | Solon City | Dorothy E Lewis Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K,1-4,UNG |
| 13 | Beachwood City | Bryden Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 14 | Upper Arlington City | Upper Arlington High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 15 | Hudson City | Hudson High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 16 | Rocky River City | Rocky River High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 17 | Madeira City | Madeira Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 18 | North Royalton City | Early Childhood Center | Public School | Elementary School | K,P |
| 19 | Kenston Local | Timmons Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-3 |
| 20 | Orange City | Orange High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 21 | Solon City | Arthur Road Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4,P |
| 22 | Wyoming City | Wyoming High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 23 | Granville Exempted Village | Granville High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 24 | Wyoming City | Vermont Avenue Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 25 | Menlo Park Academy | Menlo Park Academy | Community School | Elementary School | K-12 |
| 26 | Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local School District | Bellbrook High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 27 | Olentangy Local | Olentangy High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 28 | Forest Hills Local | Turpin High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 29 | Mason City School District | William Mason High School | Public School | High School | 9-12,SN |
| 30 | Mariemont City | Mariemont High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 31 | Avon Lake City | Redwood Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 32 | Maplewood Local | Maplewood Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 33 | Avon Lake City | Avon Lake High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 34 | Indian Hill Exempted Village | Indian Hill Primary Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 35 | Olentangy Local | Olentangy Liberty High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 36 | Russia Local | Russia High School | Public School | High School | 7-12 |
| 37 | Springboro Community City | Clearcreek Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K |
| 38 | Dublin City | Henry Karrer Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 39 | Sycamore Community City | Maple Dale Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 40 | Wyoming City | Wyoming Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 5-8 |
| 41 | Rocky River City | Goldwood Primary Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 42 | Solon City | Parkside Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 43 | Sycamore Community City | Sycamore High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 44 | Sycamore Community City | Montgomery Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 45 | Rocky River City | Rocky River Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 46 | Dublin City | Deer Run Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 47 | North Royalton City | Albion Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-4 |
| 48 | Wyoming City | Elm Avenue Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 49 | Akron City | Akron Early College High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 50 | Fairland Local | Fairland East Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 51 | Highland Local | Highland High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 52 | Forest Hills Local | Wilson Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 53 | Boardman Local | West Boulevard Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 54 | Rocky River City | Kensington Intermediate Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 3-5 |
| 55 | Dublin City | Dublin Coffman High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 56 | Mason City School District | Western Row Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 2-3,SN |
| 56 | Mason City School District | Mason Early Childhood Center Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2,P |
| 58 | Miller City-New Cleveland Local | Miller City High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 59 | Dublin City | Wyandot Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5,P |
| 60 | Dublin City | Willard Grizzell Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 61 | Lexington Local | Western Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 62 | Poland Local | Dobbins Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 63 | Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local School District | Stephen Bell Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 64 | Ross Local | Morgan Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4,P |
| 65 | Indian Hill Exempted Village | Indian Hill Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 66 | Bexley City | Bexley High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 67 | Worthington City | Worthington Kilbourne High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 68 | Westlake City | Bassett Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 69 | Wyoming City | Hilltop Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 70 | Mason City School District | Mason Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 7-8,SN |
| 71 | Cuyahoga Heights Local | Cuyahoga Hts High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 72 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights City | Hilton Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3,P |
| 73 | Indian Hill Exempted Village | Indian Hill Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 3-5 |
| 74 | Beachwood City | Beachwood High School | Public School | High School | 9-12,SN |
| 75 | Kenton City | Westview Kindergarten Center | Public School | Elementary School | K,P |
| 76 | Dalton Local | Dalton High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 77 | Kings Local | Kings Mills Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 78 | Canfield Local | Canfield High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 79 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights City | Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 80 | Worthington City | Evening Street Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 81 | Minster Local | Minster Jr/Sr High School | Public School | High School | 7-12 |
| 82 | Ottawa Hills Local | Ottawa Hills Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 83 | Madeira City | Madeira Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 5-8 |
| 84 | Kings Local | South Lebanon Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 85 | Aurora City | Harmon Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 86 | Avon Lake City | Eastview Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 87 | Summit County ESC | Greater Summit County Early Learning Center | Community School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 88 | Oakwood City | Oakwood Junior High School | Public School | Junior High School | 7-8 |
| 89 | Fort Loramie Local | Fort Loramie Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 90 | Revere Local | Revere High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 91 | Bay Village City | Normandy Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 92 | Solon City | Solon Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 7-8 |
| 93 | Grandview Heights City | Grandview Heights High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 94 | Avon Local | Avon High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 95 | Shadyside Local | Jefferson Ave Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 96 | Jackson Local | Jackson High School | Public School | High School | 9-12,PS,UNG,SN |
| 97 | St Henry Consolidated Local | St Henry Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 98 | Delphos City | Landeck Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-5 |
| 99 | North Canton City | Hoover High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 100 | Chardon Local | Munson Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 101 | Dublin City | Mary Emma Bailey Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5,P |
| 102 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights City | Chippewa Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 102 | Westerville City | Emerson Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-5 |
| 104 | Lake Local | Lake High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 105 | Wayne Local | Waynesville High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 106 | Chagrin Falls Exempted Village | Gurney Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3,P |
| 107 | Kirtland Local | Kirtland High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 108 | Howland Local | Howland Glen Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 109 | North Royalton City | Valley Vista Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-4 |
| 110 | Grandview Heights City | Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 111 | Dublin City | Scottish Corners Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 112 | Twinsburg City | Wilcox Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-1 |
| 112 | Twinsburg City | Samuel Bissell Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 2-3 |
| 114 | Olentangy Local | Scioto Ridge Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 115 | Anthony Wayne Local | Monclova Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 116 | Kings Local | J F Burns Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 117 | Anthony Wayne Local | Waterville Primary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 118 | South Range Local | South Range High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 119 | Anthony Wayne Local | Anthony Wayne High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 120 | Springboro Community City | Springboro High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 121 | Hudson City | Hudson Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 122 | Ottawa Hills Local | Ottawa Hills High School | Public School | High School | 7-12 |
| 123 | New Albany-Plain Local | New Albany High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 124 | Lakota Local | Lakota East High School | Public School | High School | 9-12,UNG |
| 125 | West Geauga Local | West Geauga High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 126 | Coldwater Exempted Village | Coldwater High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 127 | Oakwood City | Harman Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-6 |
| 128 | Marion Local | Marion Local Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-8 |
| 129 | Westlake City | Hilliard Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 130 | North Canton City | Northwood Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 131 | Brookville Local | Brookville Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 132 | Cuyahoga Heights Local | Cuyahoga Hts Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 133 | Oakwood City | Smith Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-6 |
| 134 | Centerville City | Centerville Primary Village North | Public School | Elementary School | K-1,P |
| 135 | Northeastern Local | Noble Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-1 |
| 135 | Huron City Schools | Shawnee Elementary | Public School | Elementary School | K-2,P |
| 137 | Minster Local | Minster Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 138 | Solon City | Orchard Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 5-6 |
| 139 | Beavercreek City | Beavercreek High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 140 | Mariemont City | Terrace Park Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 141 | Put-In-Bay Local | Put-In-Bay High School | Public School | High School | 7-12 |
| 142 | South Euclid-Lyndhurst City | Sunview Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 143 | Plain Local | Avondale Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 144 | Bay Village City | Westerly Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 3-4 |
| 145 | Revere Local | Hillcrest Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 146 | Beachwood City | Hilltop Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 3-5 |
| 147 | Sycamore Community City | Symmes Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 148 | Bay Village City | Bay High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 149 | Tallmadge City | Tallmadge High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 150 | Pickerington Local | Toll Gate Elementary | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 151 | East Holmes Local | Flat Ridge Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 2-4 |
| 152 | South Range Local | South Range Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 153 | Olentangy Local | Orange High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 154 | Maumee City | Fairfield Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 155 | Botkins Local | Botkins High School | Public School | High School | 7-12 |
| 156 | Stow-Munroe Falls City School District | Woodland Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 157 | Perrysburg Exempted Village | Perrysburg High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 158 | Kings Local | Kings High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 159 | Lakota Local | Liberty Early Childhood School | Public School | Elementary School | K-1 |
| 160 | Pickerington Local | Violet Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 161 | Wheelersburg Local | Wheelersburg High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 162 | Olmsted Falls City | Olmsted Falls Early Childhood Center | Public School | Elementary School | K,P |
| 162 | Olmsted Falls City | Falls-Lenox Primary Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-3 |
| 164 | Centerville City | Centerville High School | Public School | High School | 9-12,SN |
| 165 | Copley-Fairlawn City | Arrowhead Primary Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 166 | Chardon Local | Park Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 167 | Mason City School District | Mason Intermediate Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 4-6 |
| 168 | Hilliard City | Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Elementary School | Public School | Middle School | 6 |
| 169 | Maumee City | Fort Miami Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 170 | Independence Local | Independence Primary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4,P |
| 171 | Loveland City | Loveland Early Childhood Center | Public School | Elementary School | K-1,P |
| 171 | Loveland City | Loveland Primary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-2 |
| 173 | Delaware City | Robert F Schultz Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 174 | Ottoville Local | Ottoville High School | Public School | High School | 7-12 |
| 175 | Marion Local | Marion Local High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 176 | Jackson Local | Jackson Memorial Middle School | Public School | Middle School | 6-8 |
| 177 | North Royalton City | Royal View Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | 1-4 |
| 178 | Maplewood Local | Maplewood High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 179 | Chippewa Local | Hazel Harvey Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 180 | Forest Hills Local | Anderson High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 181 | Southeast Local | Holmesville Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-6 |
| 182 | Howland Local | Howland Springs Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 183 | Cardington-Lincoln Local | Cardington-Lincoln Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 184 | Bluffton Exempted Village | Bluffton High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 185 | Upper Arlington City | Windermere Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 186 | Fort Recovery Local | Fort Recovery High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 186 | East Holmes Local | Charm Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-1 |
| 188 | Blanchester Local | Putman Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3,P |
| 189 | Anthony Wayne Local | Whitehouse Primary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 190 | Olmsted Falls City | Olmsted Falls High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 191 | Copley-Fairlawn City | Fort Island Primary Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4 |
| 192 | Ottawa-Glandorf Local | Ottawa-Glandorf High School | Public School | High School | P,9-12 |
| 193 | Parkway Local | Parkway Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-4,P |
| 194 | Arts & College Preparatory Academy | Arts & College Preparatory Academy | Community School | High School | 9-12 |
| 195 | Shawnee Local | Elmwood Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-2 |
| 196 | Granville Exempted Village | Granville Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-3 |
| 197 | Lakota Local | Wyandot Early Childhood School | Public School | Elementary School | K-1 |
| 198 | Bluffton Exempted Village | Bluffton Elementary School | Public School | Elementary School | K-5 |
| 199 | Pickerington Local | Pickerington High School North | Public School | High School | 9-12 |
| 200 | Sylvania City | Sylvania Northview High School | Public School | High School | 9-12 |