School choice empowers families by allowing public education funds to follow students to the schools or educational services that best meet their unique needs. This means that instead of being limited to attending a school based on their home address, students have the freedom to choose the educational environment that suits them best. There are several types of school choice programs, including:
Publicly funded but independently run schools that are free from some of the regulations that traditional public schools must follow. They have more flexibility in their teaching methods and curricula.
These provide public funding for students to attend private schools, including religiously affiliated schools. Vouchers can cover part or all of tuition costs, depending on the program and location.
These are government-authorized accounts that families can use for various educational expenses, such as private school tuition, online education, tutoring, and other learning resources.
These public schools offer specialized curricula (such as STEM, performing arts, or language immersion) and often draw students from across traditional school district boundaries.
Families educate their children at home rather than enrolling them in a traditional public or private school.
Online schools that offer flexible and remote learning options provide students with an alternative to traditional physical attendance.
The concept behind school choice is to provide more opportunities for students to thrive by finding the right fit for their education. This approach recognizes that each student is different and that one-size-fits-all solutions may not work for everyone. By giving families the power to choose, school choice aims to enhance educational outcomes and overall student satisfaction.
Here are some key benefits associated with school choice and educational freedom:
Academic Performance Outcomes
Private school students often outperform their public-school peers on standardized tests, graduation rates, and college enrollment. Studies, including longitudinal ones like the U.S. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), show private school students scoring higher in reading, math, and science—sometimes by margins equivalent to half a grade level or more. For instance, Catholic schools, a significant subset of private institutions, consistently report higher average test scores and college attendance rates (e.g., 85%+ of graduates pursuing higher education vs. lower public averages).
Resource Advantages
Private schools typically benefit from greater per-student funding through tuition and donations, allowing smaller class sizes (averaging 15-20 students vs. 25+ in public schools), modern facilities, and enriched curricula. Research links these resources to improved outcomes—smaller classes enable personalized instruction, and access to advanced courses (e.g., Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs) correlates with higher achievement. However, funding varies widely; elite private schools may spend $30,000+ per student annually, while smaller religious schools operate closer to public levels ($10,000-$15,000).
Teacher Quality and Autonomy
Private schools often recruit teachers with strong subject expertise, though they may not always require state certification. Their autonomy in hiring and curriculum design allows flexibility—focusing on rigorous academics or specialized programs (e.g., STEM or arts)—which studies suggest boosts engagement and achievement. Teacher-student ratios also tend to be lower, fostering mentorship and accountability, key predictors of academic success.
Parental Involvement and Socioeconomic Factors
Private school families often exhibit higher socioeconomic status (SES), with greater income, education levels, and stability. Research, like that from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), shows this demographic edge explains much of the achievement gap—higher SES correlates with better access to tutoring, books, and enrichment activities. Parental involvement is also stronger, with studies noting private school parents are more likely to volunteer, monitor homework, and set high expectations, all linked to improved grades and motivation.
Selective Enrollment
Many private schools use admissions criteria (e.g., entrance exams, interviews), resulting in a student body predisposed to academic success. This selection bias means private schools often start with higher-achieving or more motivated students, amplifying outcomes.
School Culture and Discipline
Private schools often emphasize structured environments, strict discipline, and values-based education (e.g., in religious schools). Studies link these traits to higher attendance, lower dropout rates (often below 5% vs. 10-15% in public schools), and increased focus on academics. Uniform policies and codes of conduct, common in private settings, are associated with reduced distractions and improved classroom climate, indirectly supporting achievement.
Long-Term Impacts
Private school graduates tend to have higher lifetime earnings and college completion rates. A 2018 study from the Cardus Education Survey found that private (especially religious) school alumni report stronger civic engagement and academic preparedness, though critics argue this reflects SES advantages rather than schooling itself.
Why Private Schools Excel
Private schools often achieve higher student outcomes due to a combination of selective admissions, resource abundance, engaged parents, and tailored environments. However, much of this edge traces back to who attends rather than what the schools inherently do differently.
Practical Takeaways
Private schools demonstrate that smaller classes, rigorous curricula, and strong community involvement can lift achievement—but these aren’t exclusive to private settings. Public schools adopting similar strategies (e.g., via charter models or targeted funding) have narrowed gaps in some cases.
Schools can be more flexible in their approaches to education, allowing for adaptations to new educational research, technologies, and methodologies.
Helps alleviate overcrowding in public schools by distributing students more evenly across various educational institutions.
Families have a variety of school options available to support students in the educational setting that best meets their individual needs. Finding the right educational options for children can be a challenging task for parents. Here are some resources and strategies to help you navigate through various educational choices:
Cooperative schools are community-driven, where parents play an active role in the educational process. This model fosters a collaborative environment and shared responsibility among families. Parents might take turns teaching, organizing activities, or managing administrative tasks. Co-ops often focus on group learning, socialization, and parental involvement.
Eclectic homeschooling is an educational approach that combines elements from various homeschooling methods and philosophies to create a customized learning experience tailored to a child’s individual needs, interests, and learning style. This method allows for flexibility and adaptability, drawing on resources and strategies from multiple sources rather than adhering to a single prescribed curriculum or teaching method.
Forest schools emphasize outdoor, experiential learning in natural environments. The curriculum is student-led, focusing on developing confidence, social skills, and a connection to nature.
Children spend most of their time outdoors, engaging in activities like climbing, building, exploring, and observing nature. Lessons are often integrated with the environment, encouraging hands-on learning.
An educational approach where children are taught at home by their parents or tutors rather than attending a public or private school. Overall, traditional homeschooling offers a flexible and customizable approach to education, allowing families to create a learning experience that aligns with their unique needs and values. This method offers a personalized learning experience tailored to the child’s needs, interests, and learning pace. Key features of traditional homeschooling include:
Unschooling is a form of homeschooling that rejects traditional schooling structures. It is based on the belief that children learn best when they pursue their interests without imposed curricula or schedules. Learning is organic and follows the child’s interests, whether through play, daily activities, or real-world experiences. Parents act as facilitators, providing resources and support rather than instruction. Key principles of unschooling include:
Unschooling is part of the broader homeschooling movement but differs significantly from more traditional forms of homeschooling that may still follow a structured curriculum at home.
Advocates of unschooling believe that this approach better respects children’s individual learning styles and promotes a lifelong love of learning.
Online schooling has become an increasingly popular option for many families due to its flexibility, accessibility, and diverse range of offerings. Lessons are delivered via the internet, with students accessing coursework, assignments, and assessments online. Interaction with teachers and peers may occur through virtual reality, video conferencing, forums, and emails.
Here are some key points to consider when evaluating online school as a school choice:
Online schooling can be a great option for many families, but it’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons and choose a program that best fits the student’s needs and circumstances.
In the United States, a public school is an educational institution that is funded and operated by government agencies at the federal, state, or local levels. Public schools are free for students to attend and are supported primarily through taxpayer funding. These schools must adhere to state educational standards and regulations, which include curriculum guidelines, teacher qualifications, and standardized testing requirements. Key characteristics of public schools in the U.S. include:
The differences between charter public schools and traditional public schools include the following key aspects:
Charter schools are public, nonsectarian schools created through a business-like contract or “charter” between the charter governance board and the sponsoring school board or other chartering authority. Charter school law may vary per state. Some charter school laws give charter schools freedom from most state rules and regulations in exchange for greater accountability for results. The charter defines the missions and methods of the charter school. The chartering authority holds the school accountable to its charter. The charter school’s motto is “Autonomy for Accountability.”
Individual states established charter schools to foster an environment for innovation and parental choice. They can exist as living laboratories that influence the larger public school system and introduce an element of competition within that system.
Charter schools are created with the best aspects of regular public schools in mind. Their leaders may experiment with different instructional theories, site-based management techniques, and other innovations. They sometimes learn what works best for their student population by trial and error. Regular schools can observe and learn from what happens in the charter school and make similar improvements. This process continually challenges the entire public school system to improve itself.
Some states also want each charter school to meet the unique needs and interests of its community, parents, and students. This is what makes each charter school unique. While many goals for educating and preparing children are similar, each charter school fulfills a specific local need in education. Some charter schools offer a choice to parents and students in curriculum, teaching methodology, and classroom structure. Others work to keep that small population of at-risk students from falling through the cracks, offering counseling, personal attention, and support. In districts with charter schools, the community, school boards, and parents have identified their public education needs and have established charters that meet them.
A magnet school is a type of public school that offers specialized curricula or programs not available in traditional public schools. These schools are designed to attract a diverse group of students from across a school district, hence the term “magnet.” Here are the key features of a magnet school model:
1. Specialized Curriculum
2. Diverse Student Body
3. High Academic Standards
4. School Choice
5. Community and Collaboration
6. Accountability and Funding
Magnet schools are designed to foster innovation, diversity, and academic excellence, offering students unique educational opportunities tailored to their interests and aspirations.
Private schools offer a unique educational experience designed to meet the diverse needs of students and families. With smaller class sizes, personalized learning approaches, and a strong focus on academic excellence, private schools provide an environment where students can thrive. These institutions often emphasize character development, community values, and extracurricular opportunities that foster well-rounded growth. By offering specialized curriculums and a commitment to innovation, private schools empower students to reach their full potential and prepare for a successful future.
A blend of traditional classroom instruction and online learning. Students may attend classes in person part-time and complete coursework online at other times. Hybrid schools offer flexibility while still providing some face-to-face interaction and structure.
A microschool is a small, usually independent educational institution designed to serve a small group of students, often ranging from just a handful to around 15-20 students. Microschools typically have a flexible and personalized approach to education, often leveraging technology and individualized learning plans.
Voucher programs, tax credit scholarships, and education savings accounts (ESAs) are all mechanisms designed to provide families with alternatives to traditional public schooling, but they operate in distinct ways. These programs are part of the broader school choice movement, aiming to give families more control over their children’s education by providing alternatives to traditional public schooling. Here’s a breakdown of each:
Several states have enacted voucher, tax credit, and education savings account legislation, each with its own specific rules and guidelines.
Please click here to visit EdChoice’s website for details on the school choice programs available in your state.
EdChoice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers every family to choose the schooling environment that fits their children’s needs. EdChoice offers research, data, and analysis on school choice programs across the United States.
The adoption of parent choice in education across the U.S. shows both consistencies and significant variation due to differing state laws, priorities, and political landscapes. Here’s a summary of consistent trends and variances:
Consistencies in Parent Choice Adoption:
Variations Across States:
1. Charter Schools:
2. Homeschools:
3. Magnet Schools:
4. Microschools:
5. Online Schools:
6. Private Schools:
7. Public Schools:
