Crime and Violence in Charter Versus Regular Public Schools: A One-State Analysis

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Abstract

This study compared the effects that charter versus traditional public schools had on student crime and violence occurring in schools. The data source originated with all charter and traditional public schools in one state (n = 2,597) during the 2015-2016 school year. Results showed that charter schools experienced significantly lower school crime and violence than did traditional public schools, and students in charter schools received significantly fewer short-term suspensions at school. The number of student acts of crime and violence in traditional schools was significantly positively correlated with the number of short-term suspensions, but not in the charter schools examined. Implications related to the educational characteristics and advantages of charter schools are provided.
Keywords: charter schools, crime, safety

Authors

• Edward J. Sabornie, North Carolina State University

• Alison A. Motsinger-Reif, NC State University

• Cathy Crossland, North Carolina State University

• William Hussey, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

• Amy Jablonski, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction