D.C. Charter School Waitlist Hits 22,000

Everybody wants out of the district schools

The District's public charter schools saw a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of children on schools' waitlists this year, with roughly 22,000 students vying for seats, the Public Charter School Board announced Thursday.

By comparison, the same waitlists had roughly 15,000 names last year.

"This is a depressingly high number that testifies to the continued strong demand for quality schools among D.C. families and the ongoing shortage of enough quality seats to meet parent demand," charter board Executive Director Scott Pearson said of the latest charter school hopefuls.