School choice enjoys growing political support in Florida's largest city, but that hasn't led to plethora of high-quality options.

At least not yet, according to a new report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which looks at the school choice landscape in 30 large cities.

Students in Jacksonville have access to multiple private school choice programs, a small-but-growing charter school sector, a host of magnet schools and a superintendent intent on adding more district-run options to the mix. All of them enjoy at least some support among district leaders and state policymakers.

Yet, the report says, critics who argue the city's charters have grown too quickly to ensure quality may "have a point."

Despite their rapid growth (or perhaps because of it), on average Jacksonville’s charters perform worse than its traditional district schools in reading— the only city in our study for which this is the case— and perform no better in math.

Jackonville's still-young, but growing, collection of KIPP charter schools, which have improved their own academic performance and launched a collaboration with the Duval County school district, may be the most prominent sign of hope. (more…)