Education officials say that public charter high schools are among the best in the nation, due to their students' high level of academic achievement.
Recently, a total of 14 of these institutions were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Along with 240 other public schools in the country, these facilities were named the 2010 National Blue Ribbon Award winners.
This recognition is given to programs that have enabled students from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds to succeed and maintain strong academic performance. These schools also rank among the highest in their respective states on assessment tests.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools applauded both the programs and the U.S. Department of Education for helping to close the achievement gap.
"We congratulate the educators and families who have worked to bring high-performing schools into their communities," said Alliance CEO Peter C. Groff. "We urge the U.S. Department of Education to continue supporting public charter schools that can bring high-quality programs to [areas that are] underserved."
Approximately 1.6 million students currently attend more than 5,000 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
