Are Charter Schools Better?

We moved here about amonth before the school year started from Washintgon State where we did not have the opportunity for Magnet or Charter schools, but our schooling was much higher than what we have here. When I was seeing how differant & how our children have been missing out due to the lack of the school system here in Florida, we started doing our research to find a better school for the kids. After getting this far in the year, I am happy with the public school my kids are in, yet I still feel they are very behind from us in Washington & if we EVER moved back, my kids would struggle to catch up. We went & visited a Charter school & we were close enough that we had everything filled out to place them there. It seemed like a no brainer, smaller classes, more structured & seemed more like a private school without the cost. Well, come to find out after talking to others, that this was not where we wanted to place our children. We were told by parents/teachers of our school that the Charter school focus more on the children that need extra help in school or are behind. My children did not need this, they need to be challenged, so we kept them in their public school. Now, come middle school, which my daughter will be after next year, they have wonderful Magnet schools that help the children be able to target what they really want to do with their future. They also have the option of taking classes that are advanced. They can chose to pick one or all of them in advanced. My duaghter will be going to a school of arts, which will allow her to use her dance/singing etc skills & also physical art skills. But, at this point she can get ahead b/c they offer that where the normal middle schools are just a normal school. We have a lot of options here in FLorida, so make sure you check them all out before you make a decision. You will probably get a mix of reviews, so good luck!

A charter school is no different from most others; just the programming and board of directors. That's a general statement.
Depending on your location, you may have a public "magnet school" or one with "gifted" or "advanced" programs for your child to test and be accepted into. My kids did that route through the public school system, although my youngest started out at a Montessori school, as we could afford the tuition. It's one of the best teaching methods I've known of. Please check that out. There may be a program near you and a scholarship available.
Blessings

Some of the responses here are not well informed. Charter schools can be better, the same, or worse. It depends on the curriculum, the staff, and other things. Charters are able to have more flexibility then public schools. So they choose their own curriculum, set up, etc. Most wear uniforms, with a dress down day once a month. Not all are created equally so as others have said you need to check around. Schools of choice give options beyond your local public school and tend to allow students from throughout the county so you aren't stuck with no choice. My daughter goes to a charter here in Brevard County called Odyssey. It is quite good, has Montessori curriculum in early grades, and other curriculum for older grades, lots of extra curricular, concentration on healthy foods, environment, etc. Their have been some charters that are not so good, had financial problems, lack of organization, or were just not up to par. That's why you have to check all your options. Some counties are good about providing school info online, some are not. I don't know what county you're in, and just like all charter schools are not created equal, all counties are not created equal. There is great disparity here between some of our good schools and school districts and some of our not so good schools and school districts. For example here in Brevard many of our schools do pretty well, but from what I understand there are many schools in Miami Dade that are not doing well at all. So a lot may depend on where you are at in Florida. Do your homework and check all options, find something that sounds fitting for your children and check it in person too. Charters operate on a lottery system so you put your child on a list get a number assigned if classes fill up. They do a random lottery to choose the numbers so it is not first come first serve. But once the number is assigned your child goes on a wait list and if slots open up (they often do) they go through the list in number order as positions become available. In my position we were number 40 and got in right before registration. The uniforms cost money but I find it quite economical because I don't spend near as much as I would getting a variety of other clothes each year. Most schools use Kaki pants, skirts or shorts which I get from a consignment shop called Once Upon a Child for very little money, then all I need is the shirts. I get a few of each kind and that works well for the whole year.

Even if you are far into the school year or don't make the lottery, they do a new one each year, and some positions open up throughout the school year. So if you find one school that you think your kids will thrive in and it is a charter you can keep trying until a position opens up or you get through the lottery. I think there is enough choice here in Florida to find a good school for most kids as long as you are willing to do the research.

I would look into ALL schools of choice. this is the term here in Miami-Dade County and it refers to charter schools and magnet schools. Not sure where you are, but regardless, please don't forget about MAGNET schools. They are often in poorer neighborhoods, but PLEASE don't let that be your deciding factor, as they were MEANT to be in these neighborhoods- they are called 'magnet' because they are supposed to 'draw' students from all over, from every neighborhood. there are some EXCELLENT magnet schools! for instance, the magnet high school here in miami called MAST Academy is ranked as one of the top high schools in the NATION.

You should VISIT every school, too. I would call the school's counselor and make an appointment.

Philosophically, I don't really like the IDEA of charter schools- they take away from the public schools and do not have the same regulations as a public school...a charter school can be run by a corporation or an organization. Reasearch WHO is running the schools you are looking at (Magnet schools are programs housed within a 'regular' public school- so again, if you hear the name of a school and think it's 'bad' GO VISIT the PROGRAM that is HOUSED in the school).

not all public schools are bad!! VISIT! see if there is an active PTA! your child will have an excellent education practically ANYWHERE as long as you are INVOLVED!

I don't know much about elementary schools since I teach in a public high school but I will say that the educational system in Florida is terrible compared to anything you can find up north. That is the system and the way it has been set up but with that being said if we were to compare a Charter Florida school to a public Florida school, I would probably go public. There have been teachers at my school that have been "let go" and then hired at Charter schools. As a teacher, I don't know why you would work at a Charter school unless you couldn't get or keep a job in the public school. I am pretty sure teachers in public school get paid more (not that the pay is great :( ) So I would just assume you would have better teachers at a public school but if you had a child you had a difficult time adjusting to a mainstream setting then I might look into a Charter school.

S. my daughter goes to a charter middle school. I love it and she really enjoys going. She is in a smaller class room setting and it seems that everyone that attends her middle school when they go to the high school they are more ready for high school than the other middle school in the area. I think charter schools are the way to go I just hope we are able to get a high school and if so she will attend it also and not go to the public school in our area. If you are able to put your son in the charter school I think you will love it and he will also.
I hope this helps you.
L.

S.,

Where are you? In Broward County there are lots of options.

C.