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Washington, DC public schools have been on life support in the media for some time, but after a lot of hard work by students, teachers, and administrators, things are getting better, especially in our charter schools. Since good schools seal the deal for many home buyers, this is good news for families who would like to move to DC's diverse neighborhoods and be confident that their children will receive a good education.

Charter schools were envisioned as a way to prompt public school reform and give lower-income families better educational options. Since they are publicly funded, any DC student can attend for free. The schools operate independently of the regular school system and with a different set of rules. Currently, students in the District's charter schools have a solid academic lead over those in its traditional public schools, adding momentum to a movement that is recasting public education in the city.

With more than 25,000 students (1/3 of the city's public enrollment) and 60 schools with 90 campuses, Washington D.C.'s charter system is now one of the largest in the country. We owe most of this growth largely to a word-of-mouth outreach strategy by parents in the area looking for better public schools. In a few years, it's quite likely that due to the better attendance and graduation rates than the regular public schools, charters could quite easily become the dominant form of public education in the District. Records show that the teachers at these District schools fit the city's definition of "highly qualified," meaning that they have a higher level of expertise in the subjects that they teach.

According to an analysis by The Washington Post, charter schools are showing improved standardized test scores on national standardized tests and on the District's own tests in reading and math - areas which for some time have shown sub-par test scores, as compared to different regions and states. On the city's standardized tests, the passing rate for charter middle schools was 13% higher on average. Charters have been particularly successful with low-income children, who make up two-thirds of D.C. public school students.

Some of the most notable charter schools include:

Friendship Public Charter Schools (FCPS) is the city's largest charter network, with 5 schools and more than 4,000 students. FPCS attributes their success to having a surplus of over $3 million dollars which has funded cutting-edge equipment, including computerized interactive whiteboards found even in preschool classrooms.

Knowledge Is Power Program, (KIPP) has a total of 10 schools in the city, over 3,400 students, and great test scores. According to Susan Shaeffler, who heads the school, their success is highly attributed to a unified school culture that teachers and students embrace.

Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science has reached and been able to maintain higher test scores due to the fact that the school pays no rent to the university, saving the charter a million dollars annually; this money saved is then spent on school improvements. Each Howard student has a laptop computer to use in class and a notebook computer to take home.

Let's face it.  We know that charter school systems everywhere may be hurting in one area or another. Some struggle to raise money or attract students, some have gone out of business, and some have had major funding issues. But the emergence of a thriving charter system in a city like ours is encouraging. We have diligently tried to overcome the "reputation" of being one of the country's most troubled school districts, so recent reports about accessible charter schools are giving the kids, their parents, and the faculty numerous reasons to smile and be proud of all of their hard work and tenacious efforts.

What do we attribute this to, you ask? Well, the answer was certainly not easy to come by, but we're glad we realized the formula that was needed to turn things around: longer school days, weekend and summer classes, more parent involvement, and a cohesive, disciplined culture among staff members and students - and outside funding. Dan Keating with the Washington Post shares that it's been a long time coming, but now the city's charter system has taken shape as a fast-growing network of schools. He notes that "With the generous assistance from private donors, bankers and developers we've been able to fund impressive facilities, expand programs and reduce class sizes."

If you have been contemplating moving your family to the District, but are still on the fence about it, this news will definitely give you plenty of reasons to start packing your bags and heading this way. When you get here, save yourself the headaches and call Rachel Valentino, DC's "Best Real Estate Agent" as voted by Washington City Paper for a no-pressure consultation.  Rachel is on top of DC's real estate scene and active in all avenues of the market - including private residences, new construction, luxury market and the condo and co-op community.