The Competitive Effect of Charter Schools on Traditional Public Schools in Oakland Unified School District

The rise of charter schools in the United States has led to questions about their effect on traditional public schools. I use panel data starting in 2003 to examine the impact of charter school openings on traditional public schools in Oakland Unified School District. I find that the entry of charter schools is associated with changes in student composition, most notably an increase in traditional public schools in the percentage of African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with a disability. I find that charter school entry is associated with a statistically significant decrease in student test scores in traditional public schools. Lastly, I find that charter school entry is associated with a decrease in student-teacher ratio and an increase in full-time equivalent teachers in traditional public schools. 2