New Roots Charter School

New Roots Charter School is the only public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in Ithaca, New York, with a total enrollment of 106 students. The school faces significant challenges, with a low 4-year graduation rate of just 4.3%, a high dropout rate of 8.7%, and a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 45.7%. Despite relatively high spending per student ($15,317) and a low student-teacher ratio of 6.8, the school's academic performance has declined over time, with its statewide ranking dropping from 677 out of 1,207 New York high schools in 2018-2019 to 446 out of 1,228 in 2022-2023.

The student population at New Roots Charter School is predominantly white (68.87%), with smaller percentages of African American (8.49%), Hispanic (2.83%), and Asian (2.83%) students. A significant portion of the student body (58.49%) qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively high level of economic disadvantage. These socioeconomic challenges may be contributing to the school's low graduation rates and high dropout and chronic absenteeism rates.

Overall, the data suggests that New Roots Charter School is facing significant challenges in terms of academic performance and student engagement, despite the apparent investment of resources. Targeted interventions and support systems may be necessary to address the underlying issues and improve student outcomes at the school.