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. 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 (Programs and Schools of Choice)?
Magnet schools are public schools 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. In Fort Worth ISD, these schools and programs are called Programs and Schools of Choice. The curriculum of a program or school of choice is aligned to a particular focus area, such as Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM), performing arts, leadership, or certain career paths. Because these schools and programs are specialized, they are able to offer a more intensive education in their focus area than traditional public schools. Some choice programs are housed within traditional public schools, while others are housed on their own campus. In some cases, several programs are housed together on one campus.
What Are Private Schools?
Private schools are schools that are not supported by the government. Private schools receive their funding from individuals or a private organization and 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 Fort Worth area.
More about Fort Worth ISD
- Visiting a School: Questions to Ask and Things to Look For
- Understanding Your Options: What are Neighborhood Schools, Charter Schools, Magnet Schools / Programs (Programs and Schools of Choice), and Private schools?
- Transfer Options within Fort Worth ISD
- Charter School Options and the Application Process
- Programs and Schools of Choice Options and the Application Process
- How Can I Get Involved in My Child’s School?