School types: The difference between public, private, magnet, charter, and more by Maureen Boland
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Public schools Private schools
Approximately 46 million students are enrolled in the nation's public schools in grades kindergarten through 12. Another 6 million attend private schools. But if you read the newspapers, you know it's not that simple anymore. Several new types of schools, such as charter and magnet schools, have appeared in recent years. Here's a brief description of the different types of schools on today's educational landscape. I. Public schools 1. Public schools get their financing from local, state, and federal government funds. In most cases, they must admit all students who live within the borders of their district. They must follow federal, state and local educational policies and laws. 2. Public charter schools began appearing in the early 90s. They are autonomous, "alternative" public schools started by parents, teachers, community organizations, and for-profit companies. These schools receive tax dollars but the sponsoring group must also come up with private funding. Charter schools must adhere to the basic curricular requirements of the state but are free from many of the regulations that apply to conventional schools and the day-to-day scrutiny of school boards and government authorities. Considered cutting edge, charter schools usually challenge standard education practices and sometimes specialize in a particular area, such as technology, the arts, or a back-to-basics core-subjects (e.g., math, science) approach. Some charter schools are specifically for gifted or high-risk kids. They usually offer smaller classes and more individual attention than conventional public schools. 3. Public magnet schools are highly competitive, highly selective public schools renowned for their special programs, superior facilities, and high academic standards. They may specialize in a particular area, such as science, languages or the arts. Students who apply to these schools go through a rigorous testing and application process. Magnet schools were first launched in the late 1970s to help desegregate public school systems by encouraging children to attend schools outside their neighborhoods. Student diversity is still an explicit goal of most magnet schools.
II. Private schools Private schools rely on tuition payments and funds from non-public sources such as religious organizations, endowments, grants, and charitable donations. These schools select from among students who apply for admission. They may be coed or single sex. About 25 percent of the elementary and secondary schools in the United States are private. 1. Parochial schools are church-related schools, most commonly owned and operated by Catholic parishes or dioceses but also by Protestant denominations. Hebrew schools may also be termed parochial. The majority of the private schools in the United States are parochial schools. The academic curriculum at these schools is supplemented with required daily religious instruction and prayer. Teachers may be clergy or lay persons who may or may not be trained educators. A child doesn't have to be Catholic to attend a parochial school, but s/he will still be required to attend religious education classes and prayer services. Parochial schools generally cost between $ 1,200 and $ 2,400 per year for an elementary school student and between $ 4,600 and $ 7,500 for a high school student. 2. Independent schools are private, nonprofit schools governed by elected boards of trustees. This category includes such famous private schools as Andover and Exeter. Independent schools draw their funds from tuition payments, charitable contributions, and endowments rather than from taxes or church funds. They may be affiliated with a religious institution but cannot receive funds or governance from them. Of the 28,000 private schools in the United States, only about 1,500 are independent. About two-thirds of those are members of the National Association of Independent Schools, which means they have been accredited by a recognized state or regional body and have agreed to practice nondiscriminatory policies. Private day schools generally cost from a few thousand to more than $10,000 per student per year, while a boarding school charges each student approximately $ 20,000 annually. 3. Proprietary schools are private schools that are run for profit. This is a relatively new category of school. They do not answer to any board of trustees or elected officials. Because of this they claim to be able to respond quickly to the demands of the market. Many belong to an organization called the National Independent Private Schools Association. Tuition is comparable to that of private, nonprofit schools.
Adapted from http://www.babycenter.com/0_school-types-the-difference-between-public-privatemagnet-ch_67288.bc. San Francisco, CA. 2012.