General

Schools – Which Is Best? Charter, Public Or Private

About 50 million students are enrolled in the nation’s public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.  Another 6 million attend private schools. In recent years, several new types of schools now exist. 


Picking a school for your child is no longer a simple exercise.  For example, what’s the difference between a charter school and a private one?  Which school is best for your child?

Let’s take a look at three different types of schools: charter, public and private. 

Charter Schools

Charter Schools

Have you ever wondered exactly what is a charter school and what it does? You’re not alone.

No two charter schools operate on exactly the same model.

All charter schools have a few things in common. They’re tuition-free, taxpayer-funded schools. This makes them an attractive option for parents who would like to send their children to private school but can’t afford it.

Charter Schools – Varied Themes

Charter schools may a variety of themes, from a school dedicated to science and called EStem to a college preparatory school formally called Little Scholars of Arkansas (LISA) and known as LISA Academy.

As an alternative to specialties such as science, foreign language or college preparatory, some charter schools model themselves after public schools with a general curriculum.

It’s difficult to say one thing about charter school that applies to all schools. Some admit only students with certain test scores. Some, known as open admission schools, hold a lottery and allow any student to enroll.

Some schools use an extended school year calendar. Other schools follow the school district calendar. Some schools meet in school buildings like public and private schools. Some schools teach students over the Internet.

If you’re considering charter school, you should carefully research the school. Talk to the administration and faculty. Talk to current students and parents. More importantly, talk to former students and parents. If you find a charter school that meets your needs it can be a very good place for your student to learn.

Public School

Public Schools: Free, Nearby and Better Than You Might Expect

One of the biggest arguments in favor of public schools is they’re taxpayer-funded and tuition-free.

This is certainly a plus compared to private school tuition which can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month.

The local nature of public schools is also an advantage in many parents’ eyes. Many students ride a bus to and from school so parents don’t have to drive.

After school activities are nearby and easily accessible. Friends from school live in the neighborhood so there’s no driving across the town to visit a best friend’s house.

Public Schools Performance – Perception vs. Reality

Performance

One area where local schools do not generally receive high marks is performance. In a Gallup poll (http://www.gallup.com/poll/156974/private-schools-top-marks-educating-children.aspx), only 37 percent of respondents felt public schools do a good job of educating their students.

The results of this poll placed private schools at the top in terms of student performance and charter schools second. The results of this Gallup poll probably match most parents’ perceptions. As in many situations, however, perception does not match reality.

Reality

The Stanford Social Innovation Review reports public schools in general outperform both private and charter schools.

Not every public school performs at the same level. However, most public schools do a very good job of educating their students. If you’re considering public school and you need a nudge in one direction or the other, remember a public education tends to be a quality education.

Private Schools: Paying for a Quality Education

Private Schools

Depending on where you live and the state of your public school system, you may decide sending your student to a private school is your best option. Many parents send their children to private college preparatory schools for an extra edge.

Private Schools – Not Cheap

The first thing you should know about private schools is they often are not cheap.

Some schools offer scholarships for full or partial tuition. If you’re determined to send your student to a private school but can’t afford to do so a scholarship could make the difference.

Private Schools – No Two Alike

The second thing you need to know about private schools is that, like charter schools, no two are alike.

Some private schools are associated with a church. These are known as parochial schools. Others are independent. In a good-sized city you’re likely to find a number of parochial schools and at least two or three independent private schools. You will have plenty to choose from if you decide on private school.

The third thing you should know is not all private schools are required to hire licensed or certified teachers.

A private schools is going to have different specifications on hiring teachers than what you would see at www.teachermatch.org. If you’re going to be paying top dollar for your kid’s education, make sure you do research on what kinds of specifications private schools look for in their teachers.

Depending on exactly what you want for your student any of these three options can work out perfectly. The primary lesson you should take away is that you need to know everything you can about the particular school you’re considering. This is much more important than whether it is private, charter or public.

Sources: Gallup.com and Ssireview.org

About the author

About the author

Chaleigh Glass is a writer and photographer from NYC. When she isn’t busy in her apartment writing, Chaleigh loves to travel. Her escapades and interactions with people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds has given her a vast amount of different experiences and pieces of knowledge she loves to share in her writings. Chaleigh is a frequent contributor to Support for Stepdads be sure to read some of her previous articles, “Four Pieces of Advice You Can Give to Friends Suffering from Domestic Violence Issues” and “Troubled Teen? Four Things To Remember

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