RI charter school applications outnumber openings
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Rhode Island charter school officials say they've received more than 6,500 applications for students for the next school year, nearly 10 times the number of openings.
Several lotteries were held Thursday to determine which students will attend the 15 charter schools in the state in the 2012-2013 school year. The schools have 697 openings.
Highlander School in Providence, for example, has 12 open slots but got more than 1,300 applications.
Many parents are hoping their children get into the charter schools because public schools are dealing with problems including low test scores, high dropout rates and limited budgets. Providence officials had to close five schools last year because of the city's budget crisis.
The names of students who don't get picked will be placed on a waiting list.
