Pilots - small public schools operating free from typical administration and union rules - have higher graduation rates, hold fewer kids back and suspend them less, the pro-pilot Center for Collaborative Education reported. “Pilot schools with roughly the same demographics of kids, the same per-pupil budget, outperform virtually every Boston public school,” said Dan French, the group’s executive director.

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System scores for pilots were at or above district level.

French said the report should encourage creation of more pilots beyond the 19 in existence now.

Expansion poses its own difficulties, said Deborah Meier, co-principal of the Mission Hill School, a pilot school. “I'm nervous whether they will maintain the same level of autonomy for these schools,” she said.

Non-profit grants will soon be released to help develop pilot school proposals. School Committee Chairwoman Elizabeth Reilinger said she’d like to see more existing schools become pilots instead of new ones forming.

“It would be good if we have all the schools up to a higher level of standards and if pilot schools are one method that can make that happen that’s great,” she said.