EACH CHARTER SCHOOL is considered its own school district. A nonprofit or a school department must sponsor a charter school. In some cases, the relationship ends there; in others, the sponsoring agency remains involved by serving on the charter’s board of trustees, for example.

RHODE ISLAND’S charter schools are:

SCHOOL: Beacon Charter School

LOCATION: Woonsocket; currently serves students from 15 communities

OPENED: 2003

GRADES: 9-12

SPONSOR: Northern Rhode Island Council for the Arts and Johnson & Wales University

FOCUS: Visual, theater and culinary arts with a career/technical focus and a college preparatory academic curriculum

ENROLLMENT: 177

WAIT LIST: None

TEST SCORES: Reading 50 percent proficient; Math 9.52 percent proficient

WOONSOCKET AVERAGE: Reading 50 percent; Math 11 percent

STATEWIDE AVERAGE: Reading 61 percent; Math 22 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.beaconart.org

SCHOOL: Blackstone Academy

LOCATION: Pawtucket; also serves Central Falls

OPENED: 2002

GRADES: 9-12

SPONSOR: Rhode Island Youth Guidance Center

FOCUS: Strong sense of community; college preparatory classes; multi-age classes with strong advisory system

ENROLLMENT: 155

WAIT LIST: 86

TEST SCORES: Reading 59 percent; Math 5.5 percent

STATEWIDE AVERAGE: Reading 61 percent; Math 22 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.blackstoneacademy.org

SCHOOL: Compass School

LOCATION: South Kingstown; serves Washington County

OPENED: 2002

GRADES: K-8

SPONSOR: Save the Bay

FOCUS: Multi-age grouping; project-based curriculum; focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility

ENROLLMENT: 145

WAIT LIST: 190

TEST SCORES: Reading 90 percent; Math 84 percent

SK DISTRICT AVERAGE: Reading 83 percent; Math 77 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.compassschool.org

SCHOOL: Paul Cuffee Charter School

LOCATION: Providence

OPENED: 2001

GRADES: K-8

SPONSOR: International Sailing Institute

FOCUS: Emphasizes scientific and technical careers through academic and maritime training

ENROLLMENT: 440

WAIT LIST: 514

TEST SCORES: Reading 52 percent; Math 38 percent

PROVIDENCE DISTRICT AVERAGE: Reading 39 percent; Math 28 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.paulcuffee.org

SCHOOL: Highlander Charter School

LOCATION: Providence

OPENED: 2000

GRADES: K-8 (planning a high school)

SPONSOR: The Big Picture Company

FOCUS: Help develop responsible citizens, productive workers and lifelong learners; differentiated instruction

ENROLLMENT: 252

WAIT LIST: 500

TEST SCORES: Reading 40 percent; Math 30 percent

PROVIDENCE DISTRICT AVERAGE: Reading 39 percent; Math 28 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.highlandercharter.org

SCHOOL: International Charter School

LOCATION: Pawtucket; also serves students from Central Falls and Providence

OPENED: 2001

GRADES: K-5

SPONSOR: International Institute

FOCUS: Dual language program, Spanish/English or Portuguese/English; develop independent, critical thinkers

ENROLLMENT: 300

WAIT LIST: 280

TEST SCORES: Reading 49 percent; Math 28 percent

STATE URBAN AVERAGE: 43 percent; Math 32 percent

STATE AVERAGE: Reading 65 percent; Math 54 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.internationalcharterschool.org

SCHOOL: Kingston Hill Academy

LOCATION: South Kingstown; serves students primarily in Washington County

OPENED: 2001

GRADES: K-6 (chartered K-8; plans future growth)

SPONSOR: The Groden Network

FOCUS: Inclusive education; all students have individualized learning plans; school-wide Spanish instruction; Groden Network support services for students with special needs

ENROLLMENT: 179

WAIT LIST: 162

TEST SCORES: Reading 78 percent; Math 53 percent

SK DISTRICT AVERAGE: Reading 83 percent; Math 77 percent

STATEWIDE AVERAGE: Reading 65 percent; Math 54 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.kingstonhill.org

SCHOOL: The Learning Community

LOCATION: Central Falls; also serves Pawtucket and Providence

OPENED: 2004

GRADES: K-4 (adding grade 5 in fall 2008; grade 6 in fall 2009)

SPONSOR: Progreso Latino

FOCUS: Building student, teacher and community leadership; emphasis on literacy; trained master teachers; family engagement

ENROLLMENT: 280 (will eventually grow to 420)

WAIT LIST: 176

TEST SCORES: Reading 59 percent; Math 54 percent

STATE URBAN AVERAGE: 43 percent; Math 32 percent

STATE AVERAGE: Reading 65 percent; Math 54 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Nonunion

E-mail: www.thelearningcommunity.com

SCHOOL: New England Laborers’/Cranston Construction Careers Academy

LOCATION: Cranston; serves state

OPENED: 2002

GRADES: 9-12

SPONSOR: Laborers’ International Union of North America and Cranston Public Schools

FOCUS: Prepare students interested in construction trades and environmental science careers; provide solid academic foundation

ENROLLMENT: 193

WAIT LIST: None

TEST SCORES: Reading 22 percent; Math 2 percent

STATEWIDE AVERAGE: Reading 61 percent; Math 22 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Union

*E-mail: www.lecet.org/Clearinghouse_Public/NewEngland/charter/charter.htm

SCHOOL: Textron Chamber of Commerce Academy

LOCATION: Providence

OPENED: 1997

GRADES: 9-12

SPONSOR: Providence Public Schools

FOCUS: College preparatory curriculum; 60-hour freshman summer program; senior internships; job placement for juniors and seniors; 100 hours of community service; after-school enrichment program

ENROLLMENT: 225

WAIT LIST: 149

TEST SCORES: Reading 53 percent; Math 3.45 percent

PROVIDENCE AVERAGE: Reading 45 percent; Math 10 percent

STATEWIDE AVERAGE: Reading 61 percent; Math 22 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Union

*E-mail: www.chamberschool.com

SCHOOL: Times 2 Academy

LOCATION: Providence

OPENED: 1998

GRADES: K-12

SPONSOR: Providence Public Schools

FOCUS: Preparing urban youth, particularly black and Hispanic students, for careers in math, science, technology and engineering.

ENROLLMENT: 647

WAIT LIST: 638

TEST SCORES (Elementary and Middle): Reading 53 percent; Math 40 percent

PROVIDENCE AVERAGE: Reading 39 percent; Math 28 percent

TEST SCORES (High School): Reading 80 percent; Math 8.8 percent

PROVIDENCE AVERAGE: Reading 45 percent; Math 10 percent

UNION OR NONUNION: Union

*E-mail: www.times2.org

* Rhode Island Federation of Teachers represents teachers in the three unionized charters.