What Are Neighborhood Schools?
A neighborhood school is the school that a child is assigned to based on their home address, and according to the district’s boundaries and attendance zones. Dallas ISD provides a resource that allows you to enter your home address and identify your neighborhood school: www.dallasisd.org/Page/22686. These boundaries change frequently, so you should call your school to confirm which neighborhood school your child has been assigned to before enrolling.
What Are Charter Schools?
Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of local school districts. They are tuition-free and publicly funded by local, state, and federal dollars. In addition, charter schools also receive private donations. Charter schools are open to any student within a specified region that wishes to apply. Because applications exceed the space available at charter schools, many charter schools use a lottery system to determine enrollment. Although charter schools are subject to the same rules and regulations as traditional public schools, they generally enjoy greater flexibility. For example, some charter schools have a longer school day and school year than traditional schools.
What Are Magnet Schools / Programs?
Magnet schools are public schools of choice that are either run by a school district or a group of school districts. These schools are named magnet schools because they tend to draw students from different attendance zone boundaries. The curriculum of a magnet school or program is aligned to a particular focus area, such as Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM), performing arts, leadership, or certain career paths. These programs require an application, and some are selective while others use a lottery system. Because magnet schools and programs are specialized, they are able to offer a more intensive education in their focus area than traditional public schools. Some magnet programs are housed within traditional public schools, while others are housed on their own campus. In some cases, several magnet programs are housed together on one campus.
What Are Private Schools?
Private schools are schools that are not supported by the government, but rather receive their funding from individuals or a private organization. Private schools usually require students to pay tuition. The application process is similar to the college application process a student and includes applications, admission tests, interviews, financial aid applications, etc. 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 in the Dallas area.
More from Dallas ISD
- Visiting a School: Questions to Ask and Things to Look For
- Understanding Your Options: What are Neighborhood Schools, Charter Schools, Magnet School and Private schools?
- Transfer Options Within Dallas ISD
- Charter School Options and the Application Process
- Magnet School / Program Options and the Application Process
- Career Academies and Pathways at Dallas ISD High Schools
- How Can I Get Involved at My Child’s School?