It IS a charter school ... there are quite a few in DC now .. thank God.
I watched a education forum on cSPAN a few weeks ago, very interesting, the head of DC schools is a Oriental lady who believes they are good, the white head of NOLA schools went to NOLA from Chicago, is also in favor of charter schools and said they are at 50% charter and rising, he plans to be 100% in a couple of years... the head of Baltimore was so-so on them, the head of NYC is dead set against them. All-in-all, it was interesting and something everyone should see, the educators there (Harvard) thought they are TERRIBLE! — this is the people teaching educators who think all kids should go to public schools and are upset at the end of affirmtive action...