Twenty Years Later, Charter School Movement Continues To Boom

Families want options

DENVER—Trying to be unique is something at the essence of every charter school. When Sally Sorte founded Academy 360, she joined a movement 20 years in the making.

"I think it's really exciting that we get to be a part of that movement after 20 years," Sorte, founder and school director, said. "We've seen the choices expand tremendously."

Twenty years ago, the first charter schools opened in Colorado as a new breed of public schools. Twenty years later, more than 97,000 students attend charter schools making up about 13 percent of the total kindergarten through 12th grade population in the state of Colorado. This fall, 15 new charter schools are opening around the state.