Classical charters outperform on half funding

A network of classical K–8 charter schools in the South Bronx reports top‑tier outcomes while spending about half what nearby district schools do per pupil. They combine a tightly specified curriculum (including Latin and debate), strong teacher recruitment, annual curricular adjustments, strict behavioral norms, and active parental expectations to deliver results. — If reproducible, this model challenges the premise that higher per‑pupil spending is the sole lever for urban school improvement and informs debates on charter expansion, curriculum standardization, and resource allocation.