Public, private, or charter: Choosing the right school for your kids

One of the most important choices parents make for their children is deciding where they will get an education. For some, this may mean relocating to a town with a highly ranked school system. For others, it could mean making the choice between a charter or privately funded school and a public school. To complicate matters, what is best for one family is not necessarily best for another. It’s no surprise that many parents feel overwhelmed. But as with many things, doing a bit of homework can make the choice much easier.

Public vs. charter schools

Technically speaking, both traditional public and charter schools are “public” schools in that they are funded by taxpayers at the same annual per-student rate (at least in most states). But because charter schools are self-directed, they have much greater freedom than traditional public schools to change curriculum from year to year. And because their faculties usually aren’t unionized (in some schools they are; parents should find out), they are able to quickly replace teachers and administrators whose performance may not be up to par. A charter school may also be better equipped to help children with special needs, as their policies are often more flexible.

However, the quality of education at individual charter schools can vary widely. While a well-run charter school can be an excellent choice, a poorly run one can be a disaster. Parents considering a charter school should research the school’s performance, learn what they offer in terms of courses and extra-curricular activities, and talk to other parents before making a decision.

Privately funded schools

While both private and parochial schools operate using non-public funds, parochial schools generally rely on funding provided by religious institutions and thus almost always require some sort of religious education as part of their curriculum.

Because they can be expensive, many parents believe that the quality of education at privately funded schools is superior to that of public schools, but this is not always the case. Many privately funded schools lack the resources available to large public school systems, such as the newest editions of text books, and many are unable to offer the diversity of courses that public schools can, especially at the high school level.

Parents should carefully weigh a private school’s performance and course offerings against that of the local public schools’, factoring in the cost of tuition. In some cases, money spent on a private education would be put to better use by gaining interest in a college fund, or even put towards the general family budget.

Other considerations

When it comes to making decisions about education, parents need also to consider their individual child’s needs. Children who are shy and retiring may not be able to flourish in a large public school, but could do quite well at a small charter school. Very social children may be better off attending public school with their friends than at a private school where they know no one, even if the private school is more highly rated.

It’s important to remember, too, that a child’s education begins with an enriching home environment. No school, no matter how good, can take the place of caring parents. A child whose creativity and curiosity are fostered at home will always have a love of learning.