Does anyone have their kids in a charter school vs their local public district school?

I'm looking in to a local charter school and have time to research, plus we'll be moving, so I'm looking in to school districts we are thinking of moving to. So I just wanted to see if anyone has their kids in a charter school and how they like it.

TIA!

Michelle

Tyler - 18
Steph - 16
Ayden, Ryley & Dylan - 4 ~33wk2d~
http://triplethefunplus2.blogspot.com/

Hi Michelle,
My triplets are in a Charter School. I love it, as do they. My little sister is in the regular public school in third grade, my girls are in first. They are all learning the same things right now. It is very structured and my girls need that. I have my five year old in the public school this year for K only because the charter school does not do all day K. My daughter needed all day K, and could handle all day K. The triplets would never have tollerated all day K. She will start at the charter for first grade this coming up school year. HTH.

Jessika mom of
identical GGG born 11.21.01
girl 7yrs
girl 6yrs
girl 5yrs
girl 3yrs
boy 9months

My kids were in a charter school last year, and I pulled them mid-year. I think that individual charter schools have to be evaluated; they aren't all good nor all bed. The school we were in was disorganized, academics were weak, teachers were not qualified, and classroom management was absent. It was one frustration after another.

We are very happy with our public schools, but are trying to get the kids into another charter school that is college prep with emphasis on math and science.

Lisa
Mom to Aidan, Christian, and Rachel (10.03.01 @ 36wks)

I have several friends whose children are in a charter school and although they think their children are getting a quality education, the polictics of it are something else. From what I can gather from talking with them, here are my observations:

1. If your children have any special needs, charter schools often do not have the necessary resources to help them, so research this area thoroughly. I learned this from someone who pulled hers out of a charter school because they had no speech therapy available for her child.

2. Ask what their focus is on, what programs they use, what reporting they have to do to the district, and what their state standardized test scores are. Judge and compare them to your local schools to see if they are that much better.

3. Find out who is on the governing board. Often you get little dictators on these boards who refuse to take parents concerns into account.

4. See how long the teachers have been in the school. If they have a high turn over rate, wonder why. How long have they been teaching overall. If they are all new graduates and lack of direction and organization could be a problem. If they are all about to retire, then a lack of enthusiasm and new programs could be present

5. Ask about the logistics of the school. Do they having bussing? Do they have a cafeteria? What other resources do they have available to your kids - computers, libraries, music, playground, PE facilities? Can you pick up & drop off every day? Can you pack a lunch every day? If they are missing something, can you supply that outside of school hours?

Charter schools can be wonderful, but they do not gaurantee higher education that public schools do. One thing to remember is that charter schools are still regulated by your local school district, so if you have a district problem, that problem will probably not go away because you have your kids in a charter school.

Kim
Nate, Nick & Noel(36w4d)and Nia.

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Thank you for all that information! I will print it out and add it to the folder. I stopped by the school today, to get information, haven't had a chance to look it over yet. This school is new, only a couple of years old. I have heard good things, but still trying to find more information on them before I really consider them. I'm also researching Ohio's Charter School information, haven't gotten far with that yet. I'm in the beginning stages, so your questions are very helpful to get me started.

I am seriously considering homeschooling also. My older 2 will be through the system and I am starting to think that alternative learning could be the way to go. We have a great school system here, but we will be moving when the 3 start school, so we'll see. I want to explore all of my options for their education.

Thank you again!!

Michelle

Michelle my gang is in a Charter school and we love it. I think to make your decision you would have to visit the school you plan to attend as they are not all equal. Basically a Charter school is a publicly funded but privately ran school. They must specialize in something. Ours is "International Studies". Our school compared to regular public school teaches on a much higher level. It is not perfect as there tends to be problems with organization & communication. But overall we are thrilled with it. I say talk to the parents who's kids go there now. Stop in and tour the schools you are looking at. See what their policy is about keep or separating multiples.

Good Luck with your decision! Btw...Tiffany Lewis's kids also go to a charter school.


Terri~
12/21/01 at 33 weeks