How Do We Know School Choice Actually Works? 

Brian Ledtke

December 2, 2025
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Based on the new podcast series: Tough Questions with Robert Enlow 

When you work in education policy long enough, one question comes up again and again: Does school choice actually work? 

In our new podcast series Tough Questions with Robert Enlow, we tackled this right out of the gate. The short answer? Yes, and we have decades of evidence showing why. 

Below is a breakdown of the most important takeaways from the conversation, boiled down into a clear, easy to read guide to answer skeptics, reporters, and curious parents. 

1. Parents Are the First Proof Point 

Before looking at test scores or studies, the most natural question is: Are families happy? 
Across nearly every state with a school choice program, satisfaction among parents participating in choice programs are very high. 

Families report safer environments, less bullying, and less anxiety for their children. When parents are free to choose, they overwhelmingly say their children are learning more and thriving more. 

Demand tells the same story. Every time a program opens applications pour in. Tennessee’s new ESA expansion is an example: 20,000 seats available, 42,000 applicants. 

2. Students Perform Better Academically Over Time 

One of the biggest misunderstandings about school choice research is the expectation of instant results. But just like transferring to a new public school, students need time to adjust. 

Across multiple states and multiple models: 

  • Students in choice programs tend to see small but meaningful academic gains, especially after year 3 or 4. 
  • Long-term outcomes matter more, and the evidence here is strong: students in choice programs graduate at higher rates and enroll and persist in college at higher rates. 

A test score is only one moment in time. Attainment—finishing high school, succeeding in college—is a closer measure of life outcomes, and that’s where choice programs shine. 

3. Public Schools Improve, Too 

Critics often claim that school choice will “hurt” public schools. But after 30 years of programs across the country, the pattern is the opposite: 

  • Public schools improve when choice is available. 
  • Competition leads to better results for all students, not just those who switch schools. 

4. Taxpayers Save Money 

It may surprise people outside the policy world, but school choice programs are usually less expensive per pupil than traditional public schooling. 

In some states: 

  • Public school students generate on average $19,626. 
  • Charter schools receive on average $16,182. 
  • Private school scholarships/ESAs often cost on average $6,000. 

When the cost is lower and outcomes are solid or improving, taxpayers come out ahead. 

5. Students Become Better Citizens 

One of the most overlooked findings is that students in private choice programs tend to be more tolerant, more understanding of differing opinions, and more civically engaged. 

This surprises a lot of people, but decades of studies point in the same direction. School choice doesn’t weaken civic life, it strengthens it by placing students in environments that emphasize respect, responsibility, and participation. 

6. The Real Question: Do We Trust Parents? 

Much of the debate ultimately comes down to trust. 

Programs work best when parents control the funds directly—such as through ESAs—because it shifts the power structure. Legislators sometimes fear “improper purchases,” but the low misuse pales in comparison to the chronic failures in the existing system. 

Innovation requires trust. And families have proven time and again that they make thoughtful, responsible decisions about their children’s education. 

8. The Human Stories Matter 

Research is important, but the personal stories explain why school choice matters: 

  • Families whose children only thrive once they can mix traditional learning with therapies or specialized programs. 
  • Students who find safety, stability, or confidence in a school they could never have accessed without choice. 

These stories remind us that school choice is not just a policy idea, it’s a lifeline. 

So… Does School Choice Work? 

When you combine the data, the savings, the civic outcomes, the demand, and the lived experiences, the answer is overwhelmingly yes. 

Choice works for: 

  • Parents, who are empowered. 
  • Students, who achieve more. 
  • Public schools, which improve. 
  • Taxpayers, who save. 
  • Communities, which become more engaged and civically healthy. 

School choice works because families—not systems—get to decide what works for them. 

Listen to the full podcast with Robert here.

Resources: 

Brian Ledtke

Digital Experience Manager

With over two decades of experience spanning digital marketing, communications, and freelance journalism, Brian serves as a Digital Experience Manager at EdChoice. In this role, he leverages his expertise to enhance customer journeys, optimize brand visibility, and drive engagement across digital platforms.

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