Leery of traditional Baltimore City public schools, Emily Hiller turned to what many supporters nationwide have touted as the answer for struggling urban districts: charter schools.
She entered lotteries at three charters outside her Little Italy district so her 5-year-old son, Charlie, could attend the best kindergarten she could find.
At each, she was denied.
The Hillers are among a growing number of middle-class families in the city vying for coveted slots at charter schools, especially at the elementary level.
Parents “like the idea of the charter schools, because there’s more parent involvement and they’re more independently run, so I think middle-class parents are kind of nervous in general about the city schools,” Hiller said.
“There was just a lot more competition than I thought there would be at charter schools.”
While school enrollments have decreased steadily in Maryland during the past five years — public school enrollment has dropped 21,000, to 846,000 — the city’s elementary schools are seeing a jump of nearly 9 percent, to 40,000, and waiting lists for some charter schools run in the hundreds.
Enrollment increased this year nearly 10 percent at Hampstead Hill Academy in Fells Point and Wolfe Street Academy in Canton, school officials said.
“A bunch of schools are right at their max” capacity, said Matthew Hornbeck, principal at Hampstead Hill.
Educators and parents attribute the trend to several factors, including more city school options and a rough economy forcing some families out of expensive private schools.
“I think there are more middle-class families that have decided to stay in the city given the quality education choices,” said Karyn Chisholm, whose son attends kindergarten at Hampstead Hill.
“We were lucky, because we were already in a zone. I think if we hadn’t been in a zone, it would be a little more complicated.”
Baltimore City has 25 charter schools, three of which opened this year, said Dave Miller, director of the Maryland Charter School Network.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average household income in Baltimore City in 2000 was $42,000; this past year, it shot up to almost $55,000.
Despite the influx of middle-class families, charter schools emphasize that they are attended by students of all demographics.
About 80 percent of charter school students in Maryland are minorities, and 67 percent are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, according to the Maryland Charter School Network.
