Shining a Spotlight on NSCW 2025 All Star Events
Between January 26 and February 1, National School Choice Week 2025 will kick off with celebrations across the country! National School Choice Week is a one-of-a-kind public awareness campaign that focuses on students and their parents in a fun, positive, and informative way. What makes it truly unique is its empowering nature – it provides families with valuable information about the many different learning options available while celebrating the achievements of students and educators across the nation. Tens of thousands of events honoring the diverse school choices available to families will take place in a single week, including over 1,100 “All Star” events in all 50 states.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Mackenzie Mate, Participant Engagement Manager here at the National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF). I will have the honor of celebrating National School Choice Week starting in 2022 when I joined the Events and Partnerships team. Each year, I work with schools and homeschool groups – more than 24,000 of them – to plan events and activities for National School Choice Week. A big part of my role is collaborating closely with 1,100 All Star participants to plan larger, powerful events!
Our All Star Program is designed for schools and learning providers looking to enhance their participation in National School Choice Week by organizing larger, more extraordinary events like open houses, parent nights, spirit weeks, field trips, talent shows, and more. This program is competitive, and only a limited number of kits are available each year. Once accepted, participants receive one-on-one guidance and support from our team to plan their celebrations. As All Stars, they also receive an exclusive box of NSCW swag (including the iconic yellow scarves and rally signs) on top of our standard activity packet to make their events even more memorable.
All-Star and Flagship events are two terms we use as a team to highlight events we think will make the biggest splash during a celebration of NSCW. All-Star events are typically community-specific, planned by schools, homeschool groups, or individuals, and highlight a particular learning option. Flagship events are planned by organizations or coalitions of organizations, have a broad impact across a state or region, and highlight a variety of learning options.
Event Highlights for National School Choice Week 2025
Deciding which All Star events to feature will never be easy – with over 1,100 All Star events and more than 24,000 school activities expected this year alone, there will be so much to celebrate! However, I’m excited to share a selection of unique celebrations that will truly capture the spirit of National School Choice Week 2025. From student-planned spirit weeks to large community gatherings, these events will showcase the passion and creativity of schools and families nationwide.
Stay tuned as we dive into these amazing celebrations, and thank you for joining us as we look forward to the power of National School Choice Week!
Community Service
Community service events feel really special. Whether it’s organizing food drives, participating in clean-up efforts, or volunteering at local shelters, these experiences are all about giving back.
Academy of Scholars Performing Arts School will celebrate National School Choice Week by collaborating with Village Voices to host a food drive addressing community food insecurity. This initiative, running alongside their spirit week, emphasizes civic engagement and encourages student participation in social causes. Students will collect and distribute food to those in need, learning about community involvement and the impact of giving back.
Rogers Homeschool will celebrate National School Choice Week by cleaning up the town and planting flowers, helping their neighbors clean up around their houses, and trimming bushes for elderly residents.
Spirit Weeks
Many schools host spirit weeks filled with fun and excitement for students, but these particular schools are hosting unique themed days.
Unity Charter School will celebrate National School Choice Week with a fun-filled spirit week featuring themed dress-up days including “Drop Everything and Dance” event and “Soup-er Game Night!” Families are invited to join a cozy dinner of delicious vegetarian soups made by students, with side dishes brought in by families – a true celebration of community, choice, and Unity Charter spirit.
School Fairs
Richmond Adult Technical Center will celebrate National School Choice Week by hosting their biannual School Career Fair, where students and community members can connect with local businesses about employment opportunities.
Darnall Charter School will celebrate National School Choice Week with a community-wide fair at their school! There will be various activities and booths that highlight their unique programs and achievements. Local businesses, community organizations, and food trucks are encouraged to participate. There will be fun games, prizes, and special performances, including the National School Choice Week dance.
Field Trips
I have a special fondness for celebrating field trips! These events bring together kids, teachers, and parents in an exciting atmosphere, making them a fantastic way to step away from the typical school routine.
Wyoming Connections Academy will celebrate National School Choice Week by bringing together online students for family-fun field trips across the state of Wyoming.
Mid Valley Alternative Charter School will celebrate National School Choice Week with a family field trip celebration at Roller Towne, a roller skating rink. Students and families will have access to the skating rink, which includes traditional skate rentals and a bounce house. Students will be provided pizza for lunch, and the snack bar will be open for additional food purchases by students and families.
Unique Events
Although each event has its own unique features, here are some extra unique celebrations that sound like so much fun for all involved.
Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley will celebrate National School Choice Week with “Take Your Friend to School Day.” This event, scheduled when public schools are closed, allows JDS students to invite non-JDS friends, promoting cross-cultural friendships and mutual understanding while showcasing the school’s academic and social programs.
Fields of Green Montessori School will celebrate National School Choice Week with a special parent appreciation breakfast prepared and served by students. Grades 1-8 will cook a full breakfast including eggs and pancakes, while their 12 months-3 years and 3-6 years students will serve a continental breakfast. Students will dress as waiters, waitresses, and chefs to thank their parents for choosing our school!
Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School will celebrate National School Choice Week with a “Moving On Up” event for incoming sixth graders. They plan on transporting fifth-grade students and their chaperones from our district’s 14 elementary schools to tour our campus, with seven schools visiting in the morning and seven in the afternoon. Students will explore the sixth-grade hall and attend an assembly highlighting our programs, including Beta Club, Band, Robotics, Student Council, Cheerleading and Dance Team, and Theatre Arts.
ICS will celebrate National School Choice Week with their annual Scholastic Book Fair, beginning with an open house and Knights of Columbus free throw contest on Sunday.
These are only 11 of the amazing events that are taking place around the country! To get a better idea of how your state celebrated National School Choice Week, check out your state’s roundup of spotlighted events, proclamations from elected officials, press releases, and more!
