5 Qualities That Attract Families to Charter Schools

Tuesday, 4/6/2010

Charter Schools are tuition free innovative public schools that are increasingly popular with families.

In 2009-10 there are around 5,000 public charter schools, with more than 1.5 million students enrolled. Yet hundreds of thousands of children are on the wait lists of such schools.

What is it exactly that draws families to charter schools?

The list is lengthy, so we narrowed it down to 5 often mentioned charter school attributes:

1. Academic Excellence
Many charter schools display track records of high academic rigor and performance. To find out which charters fall into this category in your area, sneak a peek at the school’s accountability report to the community as well as state exam results.

2. Mission
Charter schools are each created to serve a specific purpose in the community. Each school has a mission focus. Families that are seeking programs with an art, science, or even curriculum flair, are crowding for enrollment at such charters.

3. Size
The debate over whether or not smaller or bigger schools and class sizes matter has been brewing among educrats for years. But when it comes to the opinions of families, the verdict is in: Size matters. And choosy families prefer smaller schools with low teacher-student-ratios. Often times this can be found in a charter school.

Continue reading this post on Examiner.com.

About Charter Schools Examiner Karin Piper: Karin is a speaker, school choice advocate and author of award winning Charter Schools: The Ultimate Handbook for Parents. Karin provides communications and tools necessary for parents to become informed decision makers in the expanding world of education options. She also works with various organizations in engaging with surrounding communities and creating dynamic relationships with families. Read all of Karin’s posts on Examiner.com.

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