Agency – Weekly Recap

Agency, Inc. spent the week spotlighting new research that links charter public school attendance to stronger early adult outcomes for Gen Z graduates. The organization released both a Washington state–focused study and a nationwide report, positioning itself as a data-driven voice in education and workforce policy.

In Washington, an Agency-backed Harris Poll of roughly 400 graduates and 1,000 parents suggests charter alumni are more likely to be employed, earn higher incomes, and own homes than peers from district schools within seven years of graduation. Although based on fewer than 100 charter respondents, the study indicates charter alumni report average annual earnings of $120,109 versus $76,178 for district graduates.

The Washington findings are especially pronounced for Black, Latino, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Native American charter graduates, who report average pay of $132,611 compared with $69,714 for district peers. High levels of parent support for school choice, combined with these outcome gaps, bolster Agency’s advocacy for expanding high-performing charter options in the state.

Agency’s national report, “Turning the Tassel,” uses a Harris Poll survey of 5,000 public high school alumni to argue that school type is more predictive of life outcomes than race or socioeconomic status. The study finds charter alumni earn about $22,000 more annually within ten years of graduation, achieve higher postsecondary completion rates, and have homeownership rates 10 percentage points above district peers.

For graduates of color nationwide, the analysis shows charter alumni attaining associate and bachelor’s degrees at rates comparable to White district-school graduates. Working charter alumni from these groups report earning nearly $55,000 more per year than alumni of color who did not attend charter schools, suggesting certain models may measurably improve economic mobility.

Beyond charter comparisons, Agency highlights broader weaknesses in Gen Z’s preparation for the labor market, noting that only 49% of recent public high school graduates work full-time and many are concentrated in shrinking sectors such as retail and customer service. The organization argues that outcome-based metrics—employment, earnings, homeownership, civic engagement—should play a larger role in how policymakers evaluate school performance.

Methodologically, the nationwide survey was conducted online in September 2025 and weighted to U.S. demographics, with a Bayesian credible interval of ±1.9 percentage points. By publishing these findings, Agency seeks to influence funding and accountability frameworks while informing state-level charter debates and efforts to align K–12 education with workforce needs.

The research also offers insight into Gen Z’s political engagement, with 80% registered to vote but only 55% reporting they cast ballots and many identifying as Independents. Overall, the week underscored Agency’s strategic push to reshape education policy discussions around long-term economic and civic outcomes rather than traditional in-school performance indicators.