In a sea of schooling options, charter schools keep floating to the surface. That’s because it’s quite difficult to argue the long list of charter school benefits.
Parents are looking at free tuition, specialized educational opportunities, a plethora of after-school activities, smaller class sizes, and greater attention to detail.
In the end, students receive a wonderful education and enter into the next stage of their learning with a keen sense of who they are and where their interests lie.
Together, let’s answer the question, “What is a charter school?” by examining some of the most prominent perks of this form of education. Once you see all the benefits, we believe you’ll be conducting a search for charter schools in your area.
The end result? A well-rounded education with numerous learning opportunities inside and out of the classroom.
1. They’re Affordable
Charter schools are funded by public resources. Therefore, there’s no tuition, just like public schools. You will, however, incur fees for various programs and activities.
But, the heavy burden of private school tuition will be lifted off your shoulders, while still receiving a lot of the benefits of private education.
Parents often find that the programs and activities offered are so unique that they’re glad to pay for access to such special offerings.
2. They’re Innovative
This is another benefit of an institution that’s not quite a public school and not quite a private school. While there are several public school regulations that charter schools must abide by, they still maintain a lot of freedom to set their own guidelines.
Charter schools are able to create their own curriculum. This allows school administrators to adjust their programs of study and create unique ways to educate their students. This is also why you’ll see some charter schools that specialize in the arts or in science.
They have the ability to focus on a certain specialty, create seminar classes, and include unique educational opportunities throughout their curriculum.
3. Smaller Class Sizes
One of the ways a charter school can improve your child’s education is by offering smaller class sizes. In fact, charter schools are specifically designed to cap at a few hundred students, rather than a few thousand (as we see in public schools throughout the nation).
Smaller class sizes are proven to help students excel. They have greater access to student-teacher support, making sure no one falls through the cracks and goes unnoticed. Students who attend public charter schools like Royal Public Schools excel for this very reason.
4. Larger Enrichment Opportunities
Although charter schools are publicly funded like public schools, they don’t have to stretch their resources to meet the needs of thousands of students. Again, it’s typically hundreds, not thousands.
As such, there are more opportunities for enrichment opportunities such as field trips, special projects, after-school programs, and unique classes and seminars.
5. No Geographical Restrictions
As a parent, you’re not limited to the schools within your neighborhood. If you find a charter school that has the right focus in its curriculum and ample enrichment opportunities, then you can apply to enroll your child.
You won’t be restricted to a school just because it’s in your neighborhood and you won’t have to apply for a special permit to send your child to a school that’s outside your neighborhood.
These are the kinds of hurdles that are put forth for public schooling, not charter schools.
6. More Diversity
This lack of geographical restriction creates greater diversity. In the charter school vs. private school debate, this often gets lumped into one pile. People incorrectly believe private and charter schools aren’t as diverse as public schools.
But, this couldn’t be further from the truth because of the reason stated above. Parents tend to investigate several charter schools, often by their diverse curriculum and extracurricular activities.
If they’d like to see their child in a school with a heavy focus on the arts, then they’re going to seek that school out. This creates a population where students come from all over and can share their diverse cultural backgrounds.
7. Strict Guidelines
While it seems like charter schools have free reign to create the curriculum and guidelines they want, this isn’t entirely true. They’re still held to strict local regulations, just like public schools.
Administrators are not going to play fast and loose with this because failing to adhere to these regulations can result in a loss of public funding, a decrease in enrollment, and a loss of the school’s charter.
This is hardly conducive. Just as the students are held to certain expectations, so must charter schools adhere to strict guidelines, even as they break the mold and create more unique educational opportunities.
Charter School Benefits for Your Child
As you can see, charter school benefits abound. They manage to find a unique balance between private and public schooling. Parents are not strapped as they set aside thousands upon thousands in tuition for a private school.
Yet, they’re also not faced with the worries that come with public schooling, such as their child falling through the cracks in a sea of thousands. If you’re seeking out a unique learning opportunity for your child, then chances are you’ll find them in a local charter school.
As you continue to seek out the best for your family, life, and home, we invite you to keep coming back to visit our blog. It’s continually being updated, with your health and well-being in mind.
