What Is School Choice?
School choice is selecting a school for your child based on the qualities of the school and your child’s needs, rather than on your home address. While school choice options vary from district to district, parents do have alternatives to the traditional neighborhood school the district assigns your child to attend. When considering other public school options for children, parents may consider charter schools as well as magnet schools and programs. To figure out which school is best for your child, you should start by researching individual schools.
What Are Neighborhood Schools?
A Neighborhood School is the school that a child is assigned to based on where their family lives. The school district sets boundaries and attendance zones for all schools in the district and these boundaries can change often. You should call your school or the district to confirm your neighborhood school before enrolling.
What Are Charter Schools?
A Charter School is a public school that operates separately from local school districts. They are:
- Tuition-free and publicly funded by local, state, and federal dollars, and can receive private donations
- Open to any student within a specified region that wishes to apply
- Commonly required to use a lottery system to determine enrollment
- Entitled to greater flexibility than neighborhood schools (example: some charters may have a longer school day or year)
What Are Magnet Schools?
A Magnet School is a public school that is either run by a school district or a group of school districts. These schools are called magnet schools because they attract students from other areas of the district. These programs and schools offer:
- Curriculum that is aligned with a particular focus area (example: Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM), performing arts, leadership, or certain career paths)
- A more intensive education in their focus area than traditional public schools
Some programs are located within neighborhood schools, while others are “Magnet Schools” that have their own campuses. In some cases, several programs are housed together on one campus.
What Are Private Schools?
A Private School is a school that is not supported by the government. Private schools receive their funding from individuals or a private organization. They usually require students to pay tuition and complete an application process that may include:
- Applications
- Admission tests
- Interviews
- Financial aid applications
Private schools can have a religious affiliation or be independent. Although this guide does not profile private schools, they are one of the available options for parents.
Step 1: Identify your neighborhood school
Step 2: Research your neighborhood school
- School Quality
- School Programs
- Other Important Things (Transportation, School Climate, Resources for Students with Special Education Needs)