Charter Schools vs. Public Schools...anyone???

[Avery&Todd]

My DS (11) will be starting middle school (6th grade) in a few weeks at a Charter school...he's a little nervous as to be expected b/c mainly its a new school since he just graduated from Elementary School - but he does know a few kids from his elementary school who got into the Charter school.

I have no experience with charter schools personally but I feel that this school will be a good match for my son and our family - but both myself and DH grew up in the "public school system" so this is the first time we're going outside of the "public box" so to speak..and we arent sure what to expect.

I know the "basics" - they do have an athletics program, there is no cafeteria but a gym-a-teria, and they do offer hot lunches every day catered from an outside source, but most kids bring a bag lunch.

Oh, and the biggest change - there's a uniform - but its not too bad - khaki style pants/shorts/skirts/jumpers in either black/navy/khaki and then 2-4 button polo shirts in either red/navy/black/white.

I get feedback from other parents who have said that they have a great group of teachers and I'll be pleased - but what other things are different from charter schools vs. public schools have you experienced with your own kids?


Thanks for sharing!!

 

[golfgal]

Charter schools around here for the most part are low performing schools with pretty bad reputations. Most families I know that start their kids in a charter school because it sounds like a good fit end up pulling the kids 1/2 way through the year. The touchy/fealy aspects of the charter schools sound all well and good but the kids still need a good grounding in the basics and that is often missed.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

My DS (11) will be starting middle school (6th grade) in a few weeks at a Charter school...he's a little nervous as to be expected b/c mainly its a new school since he just graduated from Elementary School - but he does know a few kids from his elementary school who got into the Charter school.

I have no experience with charter schools personally but I feel that this school will be a good match for my son and our family - but both myself and DH grew up in the "public school system" so this is the first time we're going outside of the "public box" so to speak..and we arent sure what to expect.

I know the "basics" - they do have an athletics program, there is no cafeteria but a gym-a-teria, and they do offer hot lunches every day catered from an outside source, but most kids bring a bag lunch.

Oh, and the biggest change - there's a uniform - but its not too bad - khaki style pants/shorts/skirts/jumpers in either black/navy/khaki and then 2-4 button polo shirts in either red/navy/black/white.

I get feedback from other parents who have said that they have a great group of teachers and I'll be pleased - but what other things are different from charter schools vs. public schools have you experienced with your own kids?


Thanks for sharing!!

First of all, a charter school is a public school. It is still bound by many of the district's and state's policies. A charter school is considered part of the school district it is located in.

So, for instance, if there are no athletics in your school, then the child can participate in athletics in a designated public school. In our district, the student is eligible for all extra curriculars at his home school.

That said, a charter school is only as good as its charter.

Just like any school public or private, there are some excellent ones and some really poor ones.

You would investigate the charter school just like any other school. Investigate what its charter is, how does the curriculum measure up, what are the qualifications of the teachers, do they really adhere to the charter, and how good is its board and how they run the school?

 

[IDoDis]

Just clarifying first that a charter school is a public school and receives public school funding.

I'm not here to bash charter schools because I'm sure there are some good ones out there, but the few I know of here where kids have attended seemed less than stellar to me. One high school where some of my DD's friends are going this year doesn't make the kids do much work. It's a year-round school so that group of kids has already been in school for a month. They love the school and the teachers but say they go to class and just talk and chat. The teachers give them some work to do, all of the tests are take-home tests and then get their credits. Last year when DD found out a few of her friends were going to this school, she asked me if she could go and I said no.

The standardized test scores are dismal. I can't understand why a parent would send their child here unless they were at great risk for dropping out and figure this is better than not graduating. These friends of DD's that I'm writing about that attend the charter high school are academically very smart kids (were in the gifted program in mid-school) who could achieve much higher standards. Their parents are doctors and lawyers. I just don't get it.

The benefit of charter schools is smaller class sizes which is a great fit for some kids who really need that. Not much as far as a variety of after school clubs, a decent school library, and decent athletic programs etc... The teachers usually get paid more than they do in a regular public school because the charter school has more say-so with how they spend their money.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Our charter schools are only for St. Louis city residents. Basically it is a lottery system and a rigorous application process in order to stay out of the designated school that the child lives in.

Now we have "magnet schools" that include the St. Louis County public school system and those are specialty schools, that focus on the arts, music, etc. Also done a lottery/application process.

Both are part of our public school system. We also have VICC in which city kids are bussed in to our St. Louis County school systems.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I've known of charter schools that were abysmal and some that are good. We have some friends who put their daughter in the lottery for the charter school. (and in the lottery for the good private schools. Basically, in their town you put your name into as many different lotteries as possible and hope your kid gets into one. If they don't, you move to the country where the schols aren't great, but aren't horrific either. They've moved to the country, but are keeping their name in the Charter school lottery until every single seat is full on the off chance of getting a GOOD school.)


I think though, that what an education professor told me once applies. He said that if public vouchers ever went through (and charter schools, really, are a form of voucher) he'd set up a school in one of end of the district and make it all artsy-theater-touchy-feely, but keep the core curriculum in place. At the same time, he'd start building/buy a school on the other end of the district under a different group name and make it very structured and orderly. When parents discovered their kids weren't doing any better at loosey goosey love peace and carrots, he'd be ready for the pendulum to swing. Once the artsy school was unpopular, he'd start a redesign of this school and make it a math-science school, with lots of hands on work and when parents discovered their kids didn't do any better with over-regimentation, they'd move to the math-science school. . .

Basically, he thought that so long as kids get taught the core, the rest is just window dressing and popularity contests and silliness. So, on that basis (he was a very wise man with 40+ years in education under his belt) I'd say, to just enjoy the new experience, but expect your son to learn what he needs to learn.

 

[foolishmortal]

some of these replies are funny. must just be dependant on location.

we have our sons in a charter school, and the curriculum is actually harder than all other school in the same "district", has better teachers, is more for advanced kids not the close to dropping out kids (thats what alternative school is for not charter school), great athletics including class state player of year, growing and growing while all others school are failing.

we couldnt be happier with the charter school we chose as opposed to the public schools in same area

 

[foolishmortal]

Just clarifying first that a charter school is a public school and receives public school funding.

I'm not here to bash charter schools because I'm sure there are some good ones out there, but the few I know of here where kids have attended seemed less than stellar to me. One high school where some of my DD's friends are going this year doesn't make the kids do much work. It's a year-round school so that group of kids has already been in school for a month. They love the school and the teachers but say they go to class and just talk and chat. The teachers give them some work to do, all of the tests are take-home tests and then get their credits. Last year when DD found out a few of her friends were going to this school, she asked me if she could go and I said no.

The standardized test scores are dismal. I can't understand why a parent would send their child here unless they were at great risk for dropping out and figure this is better than not graduating. These friends of DD's that I'm writing about that attend the charter high school are academically very smart kids (were in the gifted program in mid-school) who could achieve much higher standards. Their parents are doctors and lawyers. I just don't get it.

The benefit of charter schools is smaller class sizes which is a great fit for some kids who really need that. Not much as far as a variety of after school clubs, a decent school library, and decent athletic programs etc... The teachers usually get paid more than they do in a regular public school because the charter school has more say-so with how they spend their money.

so wrong compared to charters here. again it must just depend on area of country

 

[Poohgirl]

We also have a great charter school here, grades 7-12. It is advanced compared to the "public" versions. Students entering 7th grade begin with 9th grade curriculum, by junior or senior years they are able to take college classes for credit and their test scores are the highest in the state. As long as your comfortable with his school, that is what is important. Best of luck to him!

 

[foolishmortal]

We also have a great charter school here, grades 7-12. It is advanced compared to the "public" versions. Students entering 7th grade begin with 9th grade curriculum, by junior or senior years they are able to take college classes for credit and their test scores are the highest in the state. As long as your comfortable with his school, that is what is important. Best of luck to him!

SOUNDS JUST LIKE OURS. OURS IS K - 12 THOUGH.



opps sorry didnt mean caps

 

[Avery&Todd]

some of these replies are funny. must just be dependant on location.

we have our sons in a charter school, and the curriculum is actually harder than all other school in the same "district", has better teachers, is more for advanced kids not the close to dropping out kids (thats what alternative school is for not charter school), great athletics including class state player of year, growing and growing while all others school are failing.

we couldnt be happier with the charter school we chose as opposed to the public schools in same area

We also have a great charter school here, grades 7-12. It is advanced compared to the "public" versions. Students entering 7th grade begin with 9th grade curriculum, by junior or senior years they are able to take college classes for credit and their test scores are the highest in the state. As long as your comfortable with his school, that is what is important. Best of luck to him!

Your charter schools sound like ours!! From what I understand the kids that tranfer to the charter school are challenged WAY more than the ones in public middle school - and some have even left the charter b/c they didnt want to do the work.

I am blessed with boys who are "gifted" in math & science and are good readers but like "most" boys would rather do something (anything) else than read - and from what I hear this charter should fit with us quite well...

This charter goes from 6-12 and they're trying to build an elementary school but dont have the funding yet - but since my youngest is going into 3rd grade and Im sure a new school wouldnt be built in time, it doesnt really effect me..