Spatial Analysis of Charter School Location and Neighborhood Poverty in Two Urban Cities

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Abstract

This paper provides in-depth spatial analysis of Missouri charter schools and the local contexts in which they operate. The focus is on fifth-grade charter schools in St. Louis City and Kansas City and poverty levels of their neighborhoods. A case study geospatial analysis is used to determine which types of schools are educating students in high poverty areas and the extent of their academic success. By displaying poverty levels within a half-mile radius of each charter school, the spatial analysis determines how many charters are located in high and low poverty neighborhoods. A comparison of charter locations and fifth-grade language arts proficiency with traditional public schools reveals which type are educating students in high poverty areas.

Author

• Mark Hogrebe, Washington University in St. Louis