To the editor,

The Cranston City Council and School Committee last month approved a $40 million dollar school bond referendum that tentatively includes $12 million to purchase and renovate the Apprentice Exploration Academy (AEP). The 150 student high school, formerly known as the Laborers’ charter school, is located in a converted factory in the Howard Industrial Park.

The school is not worth a $12 million investment. AEP students receive an unbelievably miserable education, according to the recently released Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) 2022-23 Report Card on state schools.

Only 12.8% of AEP students tested proficient in English Language Arts, as compared to 35.5% at Cranston High School East and 63.3% at Cranston High School West. The state average was 35.1%.

AEP math scores were even worse with only 2.6% proficient, or 4 students in the entire school. 12.2% of Cranston East students and 29.1 % of Cranston West students were proficient. The state average was 28.9%

Results were also dismal in science, with a mere 5.3% of students proficient at AEP, but 16.8% proficient at East and 44.4% at West. The state average was 30.2%.

These results come despite lower class sizes at the AEP. According to RIDE, the charter school had one educator for every 5.9 students. Meanwhile Cranston East had one educator for every 9.9 students and Cranston West had one educator for every 12.9 students.

One explanation is AEP’s whopping absentee rate. RIDE says 64 percent of AEP students were chronically absent. The state average was 29%, while East and West had chronic absentee rates of 35.2% and 21.2% respectively.

Poor attendance undoubtedly contributed to a 27.9% dropout rate at AEP, roughly three times the statewide dropout rate of 9.7%. East’s dropout rate was 10.2% while West’s was 3.4%.

AEP students deserve a better education.

Standing in the way, however, is former Cranston Mayor Michael Traficante, who is not only chair of the Cranston School Committee, but also chair of the AEP board. Traficante receives a six figure salary from the Laborers’ union and is a fervent advocate for the school formed by a partnership between the union and Cranston Public Schools.

The Superintendent of Schools and the Cranston School Committee have a responsibility to provide the 150 AEP students with a good education. Transferring students to better performing vocational programs at Cranston East and West, or overhauling the entire program might help. Spending $12 million to buy and renovate an aging factory will not.

Steven Stycos is a former member of the Cranston School Committee and former chair of the Cranston City Council Finance Committee.