New York City can’t open charter schools fast enough.
Parental demand for charters continues to far outpace their supply as 70,700 families applied for 21,000 available seats at 198 of the popular alternative schools this fall, the New York City Charter School Center reported.
That means more than three students applied for every available seat. The total surpassed last year’s record of 69,000 students who strived for 18,600 seats.
The number of applications increased as well, from 181,600 last year to 212,500 this year. Many students sent submissions to more than one school.
But that frenzy for the privately managed, non-union public schools has led to heartbreak for tens of thousands of families.
About 49,700 students, just over 70 percent of those who applied, couldn’t get a seat. They were put on wait lists after this year’s random charter lottery.
The wait is only slightly lower than last year, when 50,400 failed to land a coveted seat.
Charter leaders credited strong parent interest — coupled with new social-media Web sites that made applying easier — for the rise in applications.
Department of Education spokeswoman Devora Kaye said the city offers “many options” for its students, including charter schools. “We need all of our children to succeed, whether they go to a traditional public school, a charter school, a religious school, an independent school — they all shape the future of New York City,” Kaye said.