Green Dot Charter Schools: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposal to Turn Around Failing High Schools

In the current education policy climate, increased pressure has been placed on improving failing high schools that graduate fewer than half of their students. One policy proposal that has gained support proposes replacing these failing schools with successful charter school models. This paper examines the benefits of utilizing the Green Dot charter schools as a “turnaround” model with reference to the costs. If an expanded network of Green Dot charter schools will continue to operate at its current level of effectiveness, then this policy would prove to be cost-beneficial.