Category: Roadmap

Pennsylvania State Guide

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Deciding where to send your child to school is a big decision, and you have access to more K-12 education options than you might realize. Navigating your school choice options in Pennsylvania can help you find a school where your child thrives! This post will breakdown the main types of schools available to you, as well as provide additional education resources and school choice news.

Pennsylvania families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. We’ll also cover how microschooling and mix-and-match learning fit into the school landscape!

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in Pennsylvania at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

Pennsylvania Traditional Public Schools

In Pennsylvania, 76.6% of all K-12 students are enrolled in traditional public schools. These schools are operated by districts, free to attend, open to all students, and funded by taxpayers. Did you know that, on average, Pennsylvania spends $17,884 per public school student each year?

In Pennsylvania, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Open enrollment refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located. So, Pennsylvania parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district about whether this is an option for them. Open enrollment is a valuable form of public school choice, expanding parents’ options and ensuring that their zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education.

For a real-world example, check out Lancaster School District’s guidelines for both intradistrict and interdistrict transfers. Find out more about public schools in your state at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

Pennsylvania Charter Schools

Charter schools are another important option for Pennsylvania families. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and typically have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is that they have extra freedom to innovate with learning methods and are accountable to authorizing bodies for results.

In Pennsylvania, 8.4% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school. Pennsylvania families can choose from more than 180 public charter schools, including several cyber charter schools. Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves. That could look like a Spanish immersion program or a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system (like drawing random names out of a hat!) is usually used to determine admittance.

Free transportation is available to all Pennsylvania charter school students within their district. Transportation may be declined for elementary students living less than 1.5 miles or secondary students living less than 2 miles from their charter school, unless hazardous walking conditions exist. Students must live within 10 miles of the charter school’s nearest highway to qualify for transportation, including those residing outside the district. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.

You can read about charter options at the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools.

Pennsylvania Magnet Schools

You can also choose magnet schools! These free public schools allow kids to zoom in on a specific learning track. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. If there is a magnet school near you with a theme that interests your child, this could be an exciting option to consider.

In Pennsylvania, 1.5% of all K-12 students attend a public magnet school. Pennsylvania has several magnet schools throughout the state. For example, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Erie Public Schools, and the School District of Philadelphia have magnet choices, among others. Pennsylvania’s magnet choices range from Mandarin and Spanish programs to pre-engineering and performing arts. You can contact your school district to see if there are any options near you.

Philadelphia families, keep in mind that the district has implemented a new lottery admissions process for the 2023-2024 school year and beyond!

Pennsylvania Private Schools

Private schools are nonpublic schools that charge tuition. Private schools offer a unique learning environment that may be smaller in size, pass on a religious tradition, or provide a curriculum not available in your district school.

There are more than 2,000 private schools across the state of Pennsylvania. The average tuition for private schools in the state is $10,477 for elementary schools and $16,145 for high schools.

Some Pennsylvania families are eligible for state-run scholarship programs. Children from low or middle income families may be eligible for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit. These programs received a boost in Pennsylvania’s fiscal budget for 2022-2023, allowing an estimated additional 31,000 students to receive school choice scholarships. In Pennsylvania, 4% of all K-12 students are participating in a private school choice program.

Learn more about private schools and scholarship opportunities at Children’s Scholarship Fund-Philadelphia, CEO-America, Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS), the Extra Mile Education Foundation, the Pennsylvania Affiliate of the Council on American Private Education and Private School Review: Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Online Learning

Don’t overlook online learning, which offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate learning or needs a quieter environment, you may be interested in considering virtual school. If you choose online learning in Pennsylvania, you’re in good company. More than 60,000 Pennsylvania students attended a cyber charter school in 2020-2021.

Pennsylvania offers several free, full-time online learning options for students, such as PA Virtual Charter School, Reach Cyber Charter School, Agora Cyber Charter School, Commonwealth Charter Academy, PA Leadership Charter School, PA Cyber Charter School, Central PA Digital Learning Foundation, PA Distance Learning Charter School, and Insight PA Cyber Charter School. Esperanza Cyber Charter School and ASPIRA Bilingual Cyber Charter School also serve grades K-12 statewide; these two schools offer special programming for bilingual students.

Students in grades 6-12 can also consider 21st Century Cyber Charter School, and students in grades 7-12 can consider Achievement House Cyber Charter School. Finally, students between the ages of 17 and 20 who are seeking to finish their high school diploma can choose Passport Academy Charter School. You can find contact information for these cyber charter options at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

After a student has been accepted into a cyber charter school, his or her family must complete withdrawal paperwork as their assigned school to ensure that there are no gaps in enrollment and that funding follows the child.

In Pennsylvania, most statewide online school options are charter schools. But, there are also some districts that have developed online options, like the School District of Philadelphia’s Virtual Academy, Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Online Academy, Allentown School District’s Virtual Campus, and Reading Virtual Academy. Contact your district to learn about any online options they may offer.

To read more about online learning in Pennsylvania, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

Pennsylvania Homeschooling

Homeschooling is another school option for Pennsylvania families. All 50 states permit homeschooling, which is the process of parents educating students at home.

In Pennsylvania, 2.1% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. If you’re using the homeschooling statute in Pennsylvania, it is required that you provide notice of your intent to homeschool by submitting a notarized affidavit at the time of choosing homeschool and annually by August 1. It is recommended that you formally withdraw from your current school so your student is not marked truant.

The state requires homeschooling parents to teach specific subjects (like English, science, and health) and also requires standardized testing in specific grades if you are using the homeschooling statute. Note that your homeschooled student in Pennsylvania may still be eligible to participate in sports or activities at your local public school; if you are interested, ask your district about their policies. Also, homeschoolers with special learning needs are eligible to receive special education support and resources from local public school districts.

Read more about Pennsylvania homeschooling at the Home School Legal Defense Association, or check out the LCC Homeschool Association of PA or the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, many Pennsylvania families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a distinct commitment to small-group learning, close-knit relationships, and an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and innovative learning resources in your state:

KaiPod Learning partners with local groups in Harrisburg, Manheim, and Downingtown, Pennsylvania to make learning centers available to students.

Thrive Space is a microschool offering supplemental and creative education options, from mixed media sculpting classes to cooking classes.

The Enrichment Center of Western PA is a non-profit cooperative serving Western Pennsylvania families with extra learning opportunities.

Remember, microschooling is more a mentality than a specific legal distinction in most cases. Often, a family participates in a microschool while legally homeschooling, or being enrolled in a private or online school.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
Pennsylvania Parents

For additional information about school choices in Pennsylvania, visit these resources:

Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools

Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program

Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania

PA Families for Education Choice

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Oregon State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Deciding where to send your child to school is a big decision (no pressure)! Fortunately, you’re not alone. Thousands of Oregon parents are making K-12 school choice decisions each year. And remember, each child is unique. So, the “best” school for your neighbor’s child may be different than the “best” school for your child.

In Oregon, you have access to more K-12 education options than you might realize. Navigating these options can help you find a great school for your child. In short, you can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in Oregon at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

Oregon Traditional Public Schools

In Oregon, 81.6% of all K-12 students attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free, open to all students, operated by districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. On average, Oregon spends $13,875 per public school student each year.

Most states have some form of open enrollment, which refers to whether parents can send their child to a public school other than their assigned school. This is an important choice, widening parents’ options and ensuring that their zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education.

Unfortunately, Oregon currently has very limited open enrollment policies for public schools. The state of Oregon did establish temporary open enrollment between school districts in 2012 to support school choice, but the policy ended in 2019.

While open enrollment is not widely available to Oregon families, they may still request an interdistrict transfer (which requires the consent of both the sending and receiving district). Some districts, such as Reynolds School District, also allow families to request an “area exception” for which school they attend within their district.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the Oregon Department of Education. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

Oregon Charter Schools

Oregon families can currently choose from more than 130 public charter schools. In Oregon, 6.7% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and typically have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is that they have extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods. Charters are accountable to authorizing bodies for results.

Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves. For instance, that might be offering a Spanish immersion program, like Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School in Beaverton, or a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system (like drawing random names out of a hat!) is usually used to determine admittance.

Recently we talked to an Oregon public charter school with a dual enrollment program, Baker Early College. “The whole point of the early college is if a student is ready to go to college while they’re in high school, we want to facilitate and make that happen,” described superintendent Daniel Huld. “Our students complete all of their classes at the local community colleges. In the case of eastern Oregon, we actually have students going to Eastern Oregon University.”

Free transportation is provided to all Oregon charter school students within their school district. Elementary school students living more than 1.5 miles away must receive transportation, either from the charter school or the district. Out-of-district students may use existing bus routes and transportation services of the school district where the charter school is located. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.

Oregon originally passed charter school legislation in 1999. You can learn more at the League of Oregon Charter Schools.

Oregon Magnet Schools

You can also choose magnet schools! Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the performing arts. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. There are several magnet schools in Oregon. For example, you can read about Bend La Pine School District’s magnet choices, Portland Public Schools’ choices, and Beaverton Schools’ magnet choices. Oregon’s magnet programs range from community-building to performing arts and more. If there is one near you with a theme that interests your child, this could be an exciting choice to consider.

Oregon Private Schools

Families in Oregon can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. Private schools may offer a unique curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. Oregon’s more than 460 private schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs.

The average tuition for private schools in the state is $9,485 for elementary schools and $12,011 for high schools. Unfortunately, there are no state-run scholarship options in Oregon at present, but private scholarships may be available. Also, parents can save for K-12 private school tuition using tax-preferred 529 savings accounts.

Learn more at Children’s Scholarship Fund-Oregon, the Archdiocese of Portland Catholic School Directory, and Private School Review: Oregon.

Oregon Online Learning

Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.

Oregon has about a dozen online public charter schools serving families across districts in all grades K-12. These include Clackamas Web Academy, Metro East Web Academy, Oregon Charter Academy, Oregon Family School, Sheridan AllPrep Academy, Silvies River Charter School, TEACH-NW, Willamette Connections Academy, Oregon Connections Academy, Cascade Virtual Academy, Frontier Charter Academy, and Baker Web Academy. A full list, including virtual charters only serving specific grades or districts, is available at the Oregon Department of Education website.

In order for funding to follow a student to an online charter school, the student’s family may be required to submit a letter of intent, stating that they will be enrolling in a virtual school. You can learn more about the online school community at the Oregon Virtual Public School Alliance.

Another option for some Oregon families is to attend a district-run online school. Districts such as the Beaverton School District, the Hillsboro School District, Bend-La-Pine Schools, the Eugene School District, and Salem-Keizer Public Schools have developed their own online programs.

For part-time courses, students can ask their district if they can enroll in courses through Oregon Virtual Education, a statewide network that supports online learning and offers a catalog of approved courses.

To read more about online learning in Oregon, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

Oregon Homeschooling

Oregon families can also choose to homeschool, which allows for high levels of customized learning and flexibility. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home and is permitted in all 50 states. In Oregon, about 4 to 5% of K-12 students are homeschooled.

In Oregon, notice of your intent to homeschool is required within 10 days of starting. It is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant.

While the state doesn’t lay out specific subjects that homeschooling families must teach, it does require that homeschooling students take tests approved by the State Board of Education in certain grades. Keep in mind that homeschooled students in Oregon may still be eligible to participate in sports or activities at local public schools.

Oregon offers limited funding assistance for home education if you are enrolled via a charter, like Oregon Family School.

You may also want to check out the Oregon Department of Education’s Homeschooling page, the Oregon Home Education Network, Home School Legal Defense Association – Oregon, and the Oregon Christian Home Education Association Network.

Oregon Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, many Oregon families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and related resources in your state:

Activate is a full-time microschool in Portland specializing in serving students with dyslexia.

Anchored Hope is an independent microschool in Sherwood that partners with and provides enrichment for families who homeschool, unschool, attend charters, or make other choices.

Madrona Folk School is a microschool in Grants Pass offering classes for homeschoolers in inspired academics, arts, and land-based living skills.

Oregon officials have suggested that they may regulate multi-family pod programs under the state’s childcare guidelines.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

Read Mor e

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guid e

Education Resources for
Oregon Parents

For additional information about school choices in
Oregon, visit these resources:

Oregon Department of Education

School Choice for Oregon

Education Freedom for Oregon

The League of Oregon Charter Schools

Oregon Home Education Network

Oregon Christian Home Education Association Network

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Oklahoma State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Choosing where your child goes to school is one of the biggest decisions you face. While it may feel intimidating to navigate your school options in Oklahoma and make a choice, you can do it! And remember, each child is unique. So, the “best” school for your neighbor’s child may be different than the “best” school for your child.

A great starting point for choosing a school is knowing your options, and this post will break down the main learning environments in Oklahoma. In short, you can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Interested in learning more about Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit? Check out our deep dive blog on the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act!

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

Oklahoma Traditional Public Schools

First off, most Oklahoma families (84.9% of all K-12 students) choose traditional public schools, which are operated by school districts, free to attend, open to all students, and funded by taxpayers. Did you know that Oklahoma spends $10,498 per public school student each year? You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel.

Open enrollment refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located. In Oklahoma, students can request a transfer to a school in any district, regardless of where they live. What’s more, public school districts cannot charge students tuition. The state does allow districts to set capacity limits for transfer students, and sometimes spots are only available in certain grades. For an example of what the open enrollment process may look like, check out Norman Public Schools’ transfer guidelines. If their transfer request is denied, parents can appeal to the local school board to review the case.

If parents request it, their children can be transported by the public school of choice from a stop within that school’s district, provided parents transport them to the district route. Alternatively, the assigned school district can create an agreement with the new school district to cooperate on transportation. For parents in Oklahoma who want to know more about open enrollment in their local district, Every Kid Counts Oklahoma offers a comprehensive list of guidelines and key information that may be helpful in your search.

Open enrollment is an important form of public school choice, widening parents’ options and ensuring that zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education. You may want to learn more about public schools at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

Oklahoma Charter Schools

Secondly, Oklahoma families can currently choose from about 60 public charter schools. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and typically have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is that they have extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods and are accountable to authorizing bodies for results. In Oklahoma, 6.8% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school.

In the late 1990s, Oklahoma passed a bill allowing charter schools to be authorized by school districts in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties. Today, charters can be authorized by any school district and are available in many parts of Oklahoma.

Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves. For example, that might be providing a Spanish immersion program or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. One of the state’s newest charters is Tulsa Classical Academy, which offers an American classical education and character formation for Tulsa students in grades K-8.

If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system (like drawing random names out of a hat!) is usually used to determine admittance.

Free transportation is available to most Oklahoma charter school students residing within their school district. Students living more than 1.5 miles from the school are eligible. Out-of-district students may receive transportation if requested by their parents and provided by the charter school district. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.

You can learn more at the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association.

Oklahoma Magnet Schools

Depending on where you live, you can also choose magnet schools. These free public schools allow kids to focus on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the arts. Magnet schools teach all subjects through the lenses of that one track. Oklahoma has several magnet schools scattered throughout the state, and these might be a good option if your child learns best by focusing on a subject they are passionate about. For example, districts with magnet schools or programs include Oklahoma City Public Schools, Muskogee Public Schools, Tulsa Public Schools, and more. You can contact your school district to see if there are any options near you.

Oklahoma Private Schools

Additionally, Oklahoma’s private schools offer unique learning environments that may include smaller class sizes, a specific religious tradition, or a different curriculum than is available in your district school. There are more than 200 private schools across the state of Oklahoma.

Private schools do charge tuition. The average tuition for private schools in the state is $6,766 for elementary schools and $8,052 for high schools.

However, Oklahoma students in certain underperforming schools or who meet certain income guidelines (income at or less than $154,014 for a family of four in 2022-2023) can qualify for state-run scholarship programs. And, students with disabilities may be eligible for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship. If you think a private school may be best for your child, you can always ask if other funding is available through private sources.

Plus, in 2023, lawmakers passed the Oklahoma Parental Tax Credit Act. Starting December 6, 2023, all students enrolling in an accredited private school can apply for a refundable income tax credit. The credit will cover $5,000-$7,500 of private school tuition costs, with families earning less than $150,000 receiving first priority. In Oklahoma, 0.4% of all K-12 students are participating in a private school choice program. You can find all the details in our full explainer.

Learn more at Private School Review: Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Online Learning

Don’t overlook virtual education! It can offer a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Maybe your child wants to accelerate learning or maybe your child needs a quieter, stress-free environment to focus in. Whatever the case, you may be interested in trying online learning.

Oklahoma currently offers seven fully online public charter schools for students: Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, Oklahoma Connections Academy, Epic Charter School, Insight School of Oklahoma (grades 6-12), E-School Virtual Charter Academy, Dove Virtual Academy (grades 6-10), and Virtual Prep Academy (grades K-8). These schools are authorized by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and served nearly 40,000 students in 2020-2021. Additionally, a free, Catholic online school may be opening in 2024: St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

Certain districts offer their own online choices for local families, such as Tulsa Virtual Academy, Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Online Learning, Virtual Edmond, Broken Arrow Public Schools’ Virtual Academy, Newcastle Public Schools’ Virtual Academy, and Moore Virtual Academy. Plus, part-time supplemental online courses may be available through the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

Remember, virtual school is different and it can feel like “drinking from a fire hose” at first. But, for some families, it becomes the perfect fit. Learn more about all of Oklahoma’s online options at the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board and the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

Oklahoma Homeschooling

You can also choose homeschooling in all 50 states. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home and allows for high levels of customized learning and flexibility.

In Oklahoma, 3.8% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. It is not required to send notice of your intent to homeschool to the state or your local school. However, it is recommended that you formally withdraw from your current school so your student is not marked truant. In the case that you decide to return to public school, your student may be required to complete a standardized test for placement.

The state does not define specific required subjects that homeschooling parents must teach, and does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers. In general, children who are homeschooled may face roadblocks if they want to participate in public school sports or activities in Oklahoma. But you can look for other sports leagues and co-ops near you!

Oklahoma offers limited funding assistance for homeschool families if you are enrolled via a virtual charter. Also, in 2023, lawmakers passed the Oklahoma Parental Tax Credit Act. Once this new tax credit program launches in January 2024, all homeschool students can apply for a refundable income tax credit. The credit will cover $1,000 of qualified learning expenses, including private online learning courses, academic tutoring, textbooks, curriculum, and instructional material, or fees for nationally standardized tests.

Read a great how-to about homeschooling in Oklahoma. You can also learn more at the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s homeschooling page and Homeschool Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

K-12 education has changed a lot over the past few years! Today, many Oklahoma families are mixing and matching various school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and related resources in your state:

Edupreneur Academy offers a free guide for parents interested in learning pods in Oklahoma.

Revise Collective MicroSchool is a “modern learning studio” serving grades 6-12. The microschool also offers virtual, homeschool, tutoring and afterschool offerings.

Encompass Foundation for Exceptional Learning is a microschool for families seeking a full-time homeschool social learning environment for their children in Broken Arrow.

Cimarron School of Living Education in Edmund is a Charlotte Mason school combining homeschooling and private schooling. Students learn two days a week at the school and three days a week at home.

Once Oklahoma’s new Parental Tax Credit Act program launches in January 2024, all private and homeschool students can apply for a refundable income tax credit.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

Rea d More

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
Oklahoma Parents

For additional information about school choices in Oklahoma, visit these resources:

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Oklahoma State Department of Education: School Choice

Oklahoma Public Charter School Association

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Ohio State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Each spring, parents face one of the biggest decisions they can make for their child’s future: What school environment will their child spend about 1,000 hours in next year?

Making that decision with confidence starts with knowing what options you have. You may have more school choices than you realize! Understanding these options can help you find a school where your child grows and learns to the best of their ability. Ohio families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Interested in learning more about Ohio’s various school choice expansions? Check out our deep dive blog to guide you through it!

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

Ohio Traditional Public Schools

First off, you can choose traditional public school. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by school districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. In Ohio, 80% of all K-12 students are enrolled in traditional public school.

Ohio spends, on average, $14,613 per public school student each year. You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel. Ohio’s most recent budget increases funding (and the minimum teacher salary) for public schools over the next two years. Plus, thanks to the new budget, students who graduate in the top 5% of their classes at public high schools will be eligible for $5,000 annual college scholarships!

Ohio offers some open enrollment for public school. Open enrollment refers to whether parents can choose to send their child to any public school in Ohio, regardless of their zip code or the location of the school. Based on Ohio’s laws, each school district in Ohio must have a clear policy regarding in-district transfer applications. For example, check out Willoughby-Eastlake’s application form for transfers within the district. Annually, each district can choose whether to allow for transfers between districts. So, contact your local school district if you wish to participate in open enrollment. Note that, in some cases in Ohio, there may be fees attached to student transfers.

In most open enrollment cases, parents are responsible for transportation to the new public school of choice, or at least for getting their student to a regular bus stop along the school’s route. Low-income families or those participating in a court-approved desegregation plan may be reimbursed for transportation to that bus stop or provided transportation directly, respectively.

If open enrollment is an option for you, you can visit multiple public schools in your area and discover which best fits your family. Of course, traditional public schools aren’t all the same. They may differ in learning methods and one may just “feel different” than another to you.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the Ohio Department of Education.You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

Ohio Charter Schools

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that have extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods. In Ohio, charter schools are commonly referred to as “Community Schools.” Community schools or charter schools have been allowed in Ohio since 1997. Today there are more than 300 such schools. 6.3% of all K-12 students in Ohio attend a public charter school.

Each community school or public charter school has a charter explaining the school’s purpose and what community need it serves. That could be providing a technical track or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. One of the newest charter schools in Ohio is Cincinnati Classical Academy, which recently opened for K-7 students across 52 zip codes. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a charter school usually uses a lottery system to randomly determine admittance.

We talked to Dr. Landon Brown, principal at Emerson Academy, who shared how invested his charter school teachers and staff are in the local community. “Current research suggests that urban students (particularly minority males) need to see teachers outside of the classroom environment first before they make a connection inside the classroom,” Brown said. “That old educational adage is true, ‘Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!’”

If your child attends an Ohio charter, they may soon receive additional funding. Ohio’s most recent budget provides for a brick-and-mortar community schools to receive an extra $650 per pupil in 2024 and 2025, as well as extra funding for facilities (like buildings and classrooms).

Free transportation is available to most students who attend charter schools. The local school district is required to provide transportation for all resident K–8 students who live more than 2 miles and within 30 minutes from the school. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.

For more information about Ohio charters, you may wish to check out Fordham Institute’s Ohio Charter News Weekly.

Ohio Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are free public schools. They allow kids to zoom in on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the performing arts. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track.

Ohio has several magnet schools scattered throughout the state. These might be a good option if your kid learns best by focusing in on a subject he or she is passionate about! For instance, you can read about Cincinnati Public Schools’ more than 20 magnet schools and programs. Meanwhile, Lima City Schools’ magnet schools include one with an arts theme. In Toledo, early college magnet students take electives at the University of Toledo, getting a jumpstart on college. And Reynoldsburg City Schools has state-designated STEM schools open to any child in the district. Contact your district to learn if there are magnet schools near you.

Ohio Private Schools

Ohio families can also choose private schools! In short, private schools are nonpublic schools that charge tuition. These learning environments may pass on a faith tradition, have a distinctive curriculum, or offer a personalized classroom environment. There are more than 1,200 private schools across the state of Ohio.

The average tuition for private schools in the state is $7,113 for elementary schools and $10,681 for high schools. But if you’re assuming private school isn’t affordable, think again. In 2023, Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program expanded: now every child in the state is eligible to apply. This program provides vouchers (worth up to $6,165 for K-8 students and up to $8,407 for 9-12 students) for families who wish to choose private school.

Ohio offers several other state-run funding programs too. These include scholarship programs for students with autism and students with special needs. Both the Autism Scholarship Program and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program expanded in 2023 to become available to even more families. Ohio’s Cleveland Scholarship Program, originally designed for families in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District who wished to choose private school, expanded in 2023 as well.

Plus, Ohio offers a scholarship program funded by tax-credit donations. Open to all students, this program gives priority to low-income families. Finally, families enrolled in certain private schools or homeschooling are eligible for a tax credit. In Ohio, 4.7% of all K-12 student s are participating in a private school choice program.

Learn more at the Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund and Private School Review: Ohio.

Ohio Online Learning

Whether your child wants to accelerate learning or needs a quieter environment, you may be interested in trying virtual school. Ohio families can choose from several free, full-time online schools, or “e-schools” as they are commonly called in The Buckeye State. These include Ohio Virtual Academy (the state’s largest online public school), Buckeye Online School for Success, Alternative Education Academy, Quaker Digital Academy, Greater Ohio Virtual School, Great River Connections Academy, Ohio Connections Academy, and TRECA Digital Academy. Additionally, students aged 16-21 needing extra academic and emotional support to finish high school may be interested in Ohio Digital Learning School.

You can find a complete list of Ohio’s e-schools at the Ohio Department of Education. These schools do have enrollment caps, which are adjusted annually. You can learn more about the Ohio online learning community at the Ohio e-School Families and Friends Coalition.

Finally, there are also district-run blended or completely online options, including the Cincinnati Digital Academy, Columbus City Schools’ Online Academy, Dayton Digital Academy, Cleveland metropolitan School District Virtual Academy, Toledo Public Schools’ Virtual Academy, and Middletown City Schools Virtual. Students in elementary through high school grades across more than 50 school districts in northwest Ohio may enroll full-time or part-time in courses through Northwest Ohio Virtual Academy at no cost, but they must register through their district. Plus, any student in Ohio can be enrolled in the Virtual Learning Academy or Blue Sky Virtual Academy with their district’s permission. Each district determines availability, acceptance, and logistics for their students’ courses. Reach out to your district to learn what options are open to you!

In Ohio, districts that operate an online learning school must provide all online students a computer and access to the internet at no cost. To read more about online learning in Ohio, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

Ohio Homeschooling

Homeschooling is another choice available to Ohio families. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home and is permitted in all 50 states.

In Ohio, 2.8% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. It is required that you provide notice of your intent to homeschool no later than the first week of school or within one week of withdrawal. You must also provide notice annually and if you move. In the case that you decide to return to public school in the middle of the school year, contact your local school to determine their process.

The state requires homeschooling parents to teach specific subjects (like language, math, and Ohio history) and assess their students annually. Note that homeschooled students in Ohio may still be eligible to participate in sports or classes at local public schools.

Ohio offers funding assistance if a homeschool student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP). These students may qualify for the Peterson Scholarship. Also, homeschool families in Ohio are eligible for a $250 tax credit for learning expenses.

If you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible education for your child and think homeschooling could fit the bill, check out the Ohio Department of Education’s Homeschooling page, Ohio Homeschooling Parents, Home School Legal Defense Association – Ohio, and the Christian Home Educators of Ohio.

Ohio Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, many Ohio families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are a couple of real examples of microschools and related resources in your state:

Founded in 2019, Bloom Learning Community is the first learner-centered microschool in Cleveland. Families can choose the program to supplement homeschooling or as an affordable private school option.

Acton Academy Columbus utilizes multi-age classrooms, self-directed learning, and peer-to-peer collaboration in a small, private school environment.

Azalea Montessori School is a microschool providing an authentic Montessori education for children up to the age of 12 in Norwood, Ohio.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
Ohio Parents

For additional information about school choices in
Ohio, visit these resources:

Ohio Department of Education

School Choice Ohio

Ohio Homeschooling Parents

Christian Home Educators of Ohio

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

North Dakota State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

If you live in North Dakota and are curious about your school choice options for your child, this post is for you. Where you send your child to school impacts whether they are inspired, happy, and equipped for success!

While North Dakota offers fewer options than most states, there are still choices. You can choose from traditional public schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning. North Dakota does not currently have public charter schools and public magnet schools, but it may in the future!

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in North Dakota at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

North Dakota Traditional Public Schools

Most North Dakota families (87.6% of all K-12 students) choose traditional public schools. Operated by school districts, these are free to attend, open to all students, and funded by taxpayers. On average, North Dakota spends $15,140 per public school student each year. You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel.

As of 2023, North Dakota offers some newly expanded open enrollment options for families. Now, North Dakota parents can transfer their child to any public school district; districts may only deny applications for a few reasons, such as lack of capacity. However, note that in some cases in North Dakota, fees may be attached to transfers.

For information about whether transfers within districts are available, families should contact their local school district. Curious about what the transfer process may look like? Check out West Fargo Public Schools’ in-district transfer request guidelines as an example.

Open enrollment is an important form of public school choice, widening parents’ options and ensuring that their zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education. In some cases, such as when a transferring student was a victim of violence, transportation assistance may be available.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

North Dakota Charter Schools

North Dakota is one of only four states that have not yet passed laws allowing public charter schools. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are allowed the freedom to innovate while being held accountable for student achievement. The school’s charter describes what unique community need the school seeks to fill, and the school may be authorized by a governing body, a college, or a school board.

While North Dakota families cannot yet choose public charters, this may be an option in the future.

North Dakota Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as an International Baccalaureate program or the performing arts. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. Unfortunately, there are no freestanding public magnet schools currently in operation in North Dakota. There may be magnet programs in traditional public schools, and the law allows for independent magnet schools, so stay tuned in the future!

North Dakota Private Schools

Families in North Dakota can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. In North Dakota, 8.7% of all K-12 students attend a private school. Private schools may offer a unique curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. There are more than 50 private schools across the state of North Dakota. These schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs. Today, one of the top-ranked private schools in North Dakota is Oak Grove Lutheran School, which started as a high school for girls back in 1906.

The average tuition for private schools in the state is $4,010 for elementary schools and $6,950 for high schools. Unfortunately, there are no state-run scholarship options in North Dakota at present, but private scholarships may be available. Also, since 2018, the federal government allows parents to save for K-12 private school tuition using tax-preferred 529 savings accounts.

Learn more at Private School Review: North Dakota.

North Dakota Online Learning

Don’t overlook online learning, which offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.

While there is not currently a free full-time option for North Dakota students statewide, elementary through high school students may enroll in part-time or full-time courses through the North Dakota Center for Distance Education for a fee. Families can enroll in courses at any time throughout the year, and most courses do not have a set deadline. The Center for Distance Education offers hundreds of different courses, including Advanced Placement courses and career and technical courses. The organization does not supply free technology and wifi to families, so students must have access to these at home.

Besides the North Dakota Center for Distance Education, students can also consider other paid online school options, like George Washington University Online High School, The Keystone School, Excel High School, and K12 Private Academy.

Additionally, some North Dakota districts offer blended or online programs, such as Mandan Virtual Academy, Roughrider 9-12 Virtual Academy, Dickinson Public Schools Online Academy, Fargo Virtual Academy, and Minot Public Schools’ Virtual Academy. In some cases, out-of-district students can transfer in through an agreement with the student’s home district.

To read more about online learning in North Dakota, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

North Dakota Homeschooling

Homeschooling is another school choice in North Dakota. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home; all 50 states allow it.

In North Dakota, 3.6% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. Notice of your intent to homeschool is required at least 14 days prior to starting or within 14 days of moving and annually after that. Also, it is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant.

The state requires homeschooling parents to teach specific subjects (like reading, math, and physical education) and also requires standardized testing in certain grades. If you are interested in participating in sports or activities at your local public school, contact your district to ask about their policies – in some cases, homeschoolers may be eligible. In the case that you decide to return to public school, you may submit record-keeping documentation to the superintendent of your school.

If you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible education for your child and think homeschooling could fit the bill, check out a great how-to about homeschooling in North Dakota. You may also want to check out the North Dakota Home School Association.

North Dakota Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, some North Dakota families are blending school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here is one example of innovative, microschool-style learning in North Dakota:

Northern Cass School District has reimagined itself over the past five years as it has committed to creating a more personalized learning experience: “Middle school learners participate in studios where educators coach 6-week learner-centered high-engagement projects. This past fall, one studio was built around a Farm to Fork concept to teach about agricultural careers and to experience the world of food production by going out and exploring the real world.” A microschool program is also being piloted in high schools.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
North Dakota Parents

For additional information about school choices in North Dakota, visit these resources:

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

North Carolina State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

If you live in North Carolina and are curious about school choice options for your child, this post is for you. Where you send your child to school impacts whether they are inspired, happy, and equipped for success, and you may have more school options than you realize! This post will breakdown the main types of schools available to you in North Carolina, as well as provide additional education resources.

North Carolina has a variety of learning environments to choose from. You can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in North Carolina at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

North Carolina Traditional Public Schools

Most children (67.1% of all K-12 students) in North Carolina attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by school districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. Did you know that North Carolina spends an average of $10,655 per public school student each year?

There are, however, a few circumstances where a transfer might be possible. For example, a student may be able to request a school transfer if they move during the school year, if they are a child of an employee at the school they wish to transfer into, or if they are experiencing a unique hardship that would be mitigated by a transfer. For a real-world example, you may wish to check out Lenoir County Public Schools’ transfer request form.

There are also some districts, like Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, that have “choice zones” giving families a few options of schools to choose from.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

North Carolina Charter Schools

Charter schools represent another free, public school choice that is open to all students. These schools are distinct from traditional public schools in that they have extra freedom to innovate. Charters are accountable to authorizing entities for student achievement. Charter schools can share the fruits of their innovation with traditional classrooms.

The 2022-2023 school year marked 25 years since charter schools first opened in North Carolina. Today, the state has about 200 public charter schools and more than 8% of public school students attend a charter school. Six additional charter schools are approved to open in 2024.

Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves, whether that be providing a Spanish immersion program or offering a rigorous STEAM curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system is usually used to determine admittance.

Free transportation may be available to some students who attend charter schools in North Carolina and live within the district where their charter school is located. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.

You can also check out the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools.

North Carolina Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the performing arts. Magnet schools teach all subjects through the lenses of that specific track. If there is one near you with a theme that interests your child, this could be a good school fit. In North Carolina, 9.1% of all K-12 students attend a public magnet school.

North Carolina has many magnet schools throughout the state. Some districts with magnet schools or programs include Cabarrus County Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Durham Public Schools, Surry County Schools, Guilford County Schools, Gaston County Schools, Onslow County Schools, Wake County Public School System, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

North Carolina’s magnet schools have themes that range from international languages to cosmetology, and from Montessori to digital marketing. In Raleigh, Washington Magnet School was recently named the top magnet elementary school in the nation! The 100-year-old school has a Gifted and Talented theme with 200 elective choices.

We interviewed one North Carolina magnet school, Atkins Academic and Technology High School. Principal Joe Childers described the philosophy of magnet programs this way: “When kids enjoy where they are, if kids feel engaged, that’s half the battle. If kids have an interest or feel connected, they’re going to try harder.”

North Carolina Private Schools

In North Carolina, private schools (nonpublic schools that charge tuition) come in all shapes and forms. Private schools may offer a unique curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. There are more than 780 private schools across the state of North Carolina. The average tuition for private schools in the state is $9,056 for elementary schools and $10,066 for high schools.

North Carolina offers an expansive private school choice program that makes choosing a private school more accessible to all families, especially low-income families. Currently, 1.6% of all K-12 students are participating in a private school program in North Carolina. Starting in 2024, any family in the state can apply for an Opportunity Scholarship, which can be used for private school expenses, including tuition and transportation. Low-income families will receive priority for scholarships and the largest scholarship amounts, up to about $7,400. You can find all the details in our full explainer. North Carolina also offers flexible scholarships for students with special learning needs through the North Carolina Personal Education Students Accounts for Children with Disabilities Program (ESA+).

For a deep data dive into North Carolina’s private schools, check out this analysis of the state’s private school landscape.

Learn more at the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh School Directory and Private School Review: North Carolina.

North Carolina Online Learning

Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try. Free, full-time online learning options available to families statewide include North Carolina Virtual Academy , North Carolina Virtual Public School, and North Carolina Cyber Academy, which serve grades K-12.

Additionally, middle school and high school students may enroll in online courses part-time via North Carolina Virtual Public School. Especially in rural districts, some students use North Carolina Virtual to take classes not offered at their local school, such as an Advanced Placement class, STEM class, or alternative class. Public school students interested in attending North Carolina Virtual Public School should connect with their school’s e-learning advisor, since enrollment takes place through local schools and North Carolina Virtual Public School does not grant diplomas. Students not enrolled in public schools may be required to pay tuition.

There are also some district-run online or blended options, such as Crossroads Flex High School, Charlotte Mecklenburg Virtual Schools, Granville Academy, Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy, Iredell-Statesville Schools’ iACADEMY, and Guilford e-Learning. A new partnership between NC State University and North Carolina Virtual Public School has created the Virtual School Network to support and connect local traditional public schools offering virtual learning.

To read more about online learning in North Carolina, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

North Carolina Homeschooling

Many North Carolina families (6.8% of all K-12 students) choose homeschooling, the process of parents educating students at home. In North Carolina, notice of your intent to homeschool is required prior to starting. It is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant. In the case that you decide to return to public school, you should notify the NC Division of Non-Public Education and contact your local principal for the enrollment process.

While the state doesn’t lay out specific subjects that homeschooling families must teach, it does require that homeschooling students take a standardized test annually. Unfortunately, children who are homeschooled may face roadblocks if they want to participate in public school sports or activities in North Carolina. But, you can always look for other sports leagues and co-ops!

North Carolina offers funding assistance for students with disabilities, including homeschooled students, through a state-funded program.

We talked to one homeschooling mom and co-op leader, Kristin Jackson. Jackson never expected to try homeschooling. But, her son’s medical needs started her on a homeschooling journey that has turned her into an advocate. Now she’s working to spread the word about homeschooling as an education choice.

“We’re really looking to get the word out, especially to minorities,” said Jackson. “A lot of people of color don’t know about the opportunities to homeschool or they feel like it’s not something that people of color do. In Charlotte, there’s more than 600 families in our Facebook group alone, people in Charlotte and within the outskirts of Charlotte that homeschool. There’s a huge, thriving community for whatever you’re interested in.”

As of 2023, more than 150,000 students are homeschooling in North Carolina. Find a great how-to about North Carolina homeschooling at the Home School Legal Defense Association. You can also find resources on the state’s Department of Public Instruction page, and at North Carolinians for Home Education.

North Carolina Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, some North Carolina families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are a few real examples of microschools and innovative learning resources in your state:

Roots School is a private membership association based out of Durham that provides families the freedom to choose how their child will learn.

Burbrella Learning Academy operates an in-person microschool in Burlington, as well as an online learning microschool for non-local families.

Sometimes learning pods are district-run. For example, Edgecombe County Public Schools in rural North Carolina won a grant to test out learning hubs as a way to give students of all ages more flexibility in their education. The district is also experimenting with early learning pods for three and four-year-olds. Similarly, Guilford County Public Schools has partnered with community organizations to launch learning hubs and give students a blended learning option.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has required organizations to obtain a license in order to provide childcare for school-age children. Organizations contracting with a public school are exempt. Read about an affordable Learning Support Group in Charlotte that partnered with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
North Carolina Parents

For additional information about school choices in
North Carolina, visit these resources:

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

The North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools

Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina

NorthCarolinaCAN

NC Schools Around Me

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

New York State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Choosing where your child goes to school is one of the biggest decisions you face. While it may feel intimidating to navigate your school choice options in New York and make a choice, you can do it. The best starting point for choosing a good school fit is knowing your options. This post will break down the main learning environments available in your state.

New York families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in New York at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

New York Traditional Public Schools

Most children in New York (74.6% of all K-12 students) attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by school districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. Each year, New York spends an average of $26,571 per public school student. You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel.

In New York, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment. Open enrollment is a valuable choice that refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located or what their zip code is.

If you would like to participate in open enrollment, check with your local school district to see if this is available. If so, you can visit and select from a wider array of public schools. For example, the New York City Department of Education lists several reasons families may request school transfers. These include an accessibility need, a sibling being at a different school, a travel hardship or move, or a safety concern.

You may also want to visit the New York State Education Department, or learn about New York City’s non-resident enrollment policies. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

New York Charter Schools

You can also choose from charter schools. In New York, 6.3% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school. These are another type of tuition-free, public school open to all students. Charter schools are distinct from traditional public schools in that they have extra freedom to innovate and determine their own policies. As one New York City charter school parent described, “There is a tremendous amount of variety among charter schools… Shop around to find the school that is the best fit for your child’s learning needs.”

As they innovate, charter schools can share the fruits of their innovation with traditional classrooms. In New York, charters are accountable to authorizing entities for student achievement. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system is usually used to determine admittance.

New York’s first charter school opened in 1999 in Harlem. Today, there are more than 350 charter schools across the state, with the majority of these located in New York City. Currently there is a cap limiting the number of charter school licenses available in New York City. As part of New York’s budget passed in 2023, up to 14 new charters can be opened in New York City, and up to eight elsewhere in the state.

Learn more about charter options at the Northeast Charter Schools Network, or at New York Family’s 2023 Charter School Guide. If you’re in the Buffalo area, you can apply to multiple charter schools at one time at Enroll Buffalo Charters.

New York Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as an International Baccalaureate program or the performing arts. In New York, 4.5% of all K-12 students attend a public magnet school. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. If there is one near you with a theme that interests your child, it could be a great option to consider.

New York has several magnet schools throughout the state. You can easily search magnet schools in New York City at NYC Magnet Schools. The website offers families application info and information about magnet schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Other districts with magnet schools or programs include the Rochester City School District and the Buffalo School District. You can also search your local district to learn more.

New York Private Schools

There are more than 1,800 private schools across the state of New York. Overall, the average tuition for private schools in the state is $20,899 for elementary schools and $26,418 for high schools. In New York, 12.8% of all K-12 students attend a private school.

New York’s private schools feature diverse learning methods. One of the private schools we spoke to, The Learning Tree Cultural Preparatory School, offers students an award-winning drumming program and takes eighth-graders on international trips each year. “Our philosophy is that inner-city children should be able to experience anything that other children experience,” says founder Lois Gregory.

While there are no state-run scholarship options in New York, many private schools, such as The Learning Tree Cultural Preparatory School, work with scholarship-granting organizations to keep tuition affordable for all families who are interested. In fact, there are more than 200 New York City private schools with an average annual tuition of $6,065.

Additionally, New York City students with disabilities may be eligible to have private school tuition paid for or reimbursed by the Education Department when there is not an appropriate public education able to serve their special learning plan. According to WNYC, “Because children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education under federal law, the Education Department may recommend a nonpublic school program if it is unable to provide the services mandated for your child in his or her Individualized Education Program.”

Learn more about private school opportunities at the Children’s Scholarship Fund – New York, BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund, Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, Advocates for Children of New York’s Guide to Special Education, Inner-City Scholarship Fund, Futures in Education, Oliver Scholars, Prep for Prep, Student Sponsor Partners, and Private School Review: New York.

New York Online Learning

Online learning is sometimes overlooked, but it offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.

While most states offer a free, statewide, full-time online learning program for all grades, New York does not currently do so. However, New York City recently launched its first virtual school, A School Without Walls. This school will serve ninth and tenth graders in New York City for 2023-2024, and will gradually expand to eleventh and twelfth graders.

While New York is currently one of the most restrictive states for online schooling options, students in some districts, especially students with medical exemptions, may also be able to access remote learning programs.

Keep in mind that there are also fee-based full-time online school options that are available to students in New York and all 50 states. These include George Washington University Online High School, The Keystone School, and K12 Private Academy.

Additionally, there are part-time online learning opportunities available in many New York schools. For example, New York City offers a digital learning program called iLearnNYC. This allows students in participating schools to take specific online courses unavailable in their brick-and-mortar school. Additionally, the New York State Education Department lists course providers that schools statewide may collaborate with to offer online courses to students.

To read more about online learning in New York, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

New York Homeschooling

Homeschooling is another school option in all 50 states. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home. There are about 54,000 students (1.9% of all K-12 students) who homeschool across the Empire State!

In New York, notice of your intent to homeschool is required within 14 days of starting and annually by July 1. Families in New York City should submit their paperwork to the NYC Education Department’s Office of Homeschooling. Families outside of New York City should submit to their district’s superintendent. While homeschooling, families should also submit an annual individual home instruction plan and quarterly reports.

Homeschooling parents are required to teach specific subjects (such as reading, writing, and physical education) and assess their child annually. Unfortunately, children who are homeschooled may face roadblocks if they want to participate in public school sports or activities in New York. But, you can always look for other sports leagues and activities near you!

In the case that you decide to return to public school, the school will determine your student’s placement based on records, potential assessments, and the principal’s decision.

If you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible education for your child and think homeschooling could fit the bill, view these resources about homeschooling specific to New York.

New York Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, some New York families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are a few real examples of microschools and related resources in your state:

There are at least four Acton Academy microschools either open or planning to open in New York — these are in Riverhead, Mount Vision, Rochester, and New York City.

Joyful Learning Academy in Brooklyn is a learning center for homeschoolers founded by a former public school teacher, focused on holistic living and creative learning.

Art of Words Community School is a small private school in Brooklyn focused on art, literature, community, and project-based learning.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
New York Parents

For additional information about school choices in
New York, visit these resources:

New York State Education Department

Northeast Charter Schools Network

New York State Coalition for Independent and Religious Schools

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

New Mexico State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

If you’re making a decision about your child’s K-12 education, you’re not alone. Thousands of New Mexico parents make school choice decisions each year for their children. You can do it! And, you have a variety of options available to choose from. Understanding your options can help you find a learning environment where your child is able not just to “get by” at school, but to thrive. Remember, each child is unique. So, the “best” school for your child may be different than the “best” school for your neighbor’s child.

In New Mexico, families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in New Mexico at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

New Mexico Traditional Public Schools

As you might guess, most children (80.7% of all K-12 students) in New Mexico attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by school districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. Did you know that New Mexico spends an average of $12,127 per public school student each year?

New Mexico has restricted open enrollment. Open enrollment refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located. New Mexico parents who live near low-performing schools may transfer their children to another school inside or outside their district. Parents in other circumstances should check with their local school district.

If you do have access to open enrollment, this can broaden your public school options, allowing you more choices to find the best fit for your child. If a student participating in open enrollment is choosing a different school within the same district, the district will provide transportation or reimburse parents’ costs. If the family selects a school in a different school district, parents are responsible for transportation. For a real-world example of open enrollment, check out Albuquerque Public Schools’ transfer guidelines.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Mexico Public Education Department. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

New Mexico Charter Schools

New Mexico families have another public school choice: public charter schools. In New Mexico, 9.3% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school These are tuition-free schools that are allowed extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods. New Mexico has about 100 charter schools that parents can choose from; these schools serve nearly 30,000 students. Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves, whether that be providing a STEM program or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum.

At New Mexico International School, for instance, the goal is for students to become bi-literate in Spanish and English and conversant in Arabic. “No one comes to New Mexico International School because they have a certain zip code or live near us,” said Head of School Todd Knouse. “Every child is here because their parents said, ‘I like the mission of that school.’ Everybody’s got to come to that prospective parent night because that’s how we give the lottery numbers out.”

As Knouse’s comment indicates, if there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system (like drawing random names out of a hat!) is usually used to determine admittance. Charters are especially popular in Santa Fe, where nearly 1 in 4 students attend a charter school.

Free transportation may be available to all New Mexico charter school students residing within their school district. Eligibility includes K–6 students living more than a mile away, grade 7–9 students living more than 1.5 miles away, and grade 10–12 students living more than 2 miles away. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.

Learn more about charter school options in your state from the Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. You can also find a directory of charter schools and authorizers at the New Mexico Public Education Department.

New Mexico Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are a third type of free public school. Magnet schools are unique in that they allow kids to focus on specific themes. New Mexico’s magnet programs include ones that focus on STEM, the International Baccalaureate program, arts curriculum, and more. Most of New Mexico’s magnet schools are concentrated in the Albuquerque Public School District. In the Las Cruces Public School District, there are engineering, art, and multi-media magnet programs. Additionally, Taos Municipal Schools has a blended-learning high-school magnet school, Taos Cyber Magnet School.

New Mexico Private Schools

New Mexico also has dozens of private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition, that parents can choose from. Many of these schools offer a specific religious or cultural tradition unavailable in neighborhood schools. In New Mexico, 6.7% of all K-12 students attend a private school.

There are more than 180 private schools across the state of New Mexico. The average tuition for private schools in the state is $8,770 for elementary schools and $10,324 for high schools.

There are no state-run scholarship options in New Mexico, but private scholarships may be available. Also, parents can save for K-12 private school tuition using tax-preferred 529 savings accounts. You can read about the latest changes to New Mexico’s state-sponsored 529 education savings plan at The Education Plan website.

Learn more at the Council for American Private Education- New Mexico Chapter, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Catholic Schools, and Private School Review: New Mexico.

New Mexico Online Learning

Whether your child wants to accelerate learning or needs a quieter environment to focus in, you may be interested in virtual school. In New Mexico there are several free, full-time online learning options for students, such as New Mexico Connections Academy, Pecos Cyber Academy, eCademy K8 and eCademy High School, and New Mexico Destinations Career Academy.

In addition, the New Mexico Virtual Course Consortium was created to support public districts and charter schools in offering supplemental online courses. The state-run program charges fees to schools who enroll students. Some local districts absorb these costs, while some pass them along to families.

There are also local district-run online and blended programs in some places, such as Rio Rancho Cyber Academy and Taos Cyber Magnet School.

To read more about online learning in New Mexico, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

New Mexico Homeschooling

New Mexico parents can choose homeschooling, which is the process of parents educating students at home. Homeschooling is a choice in all 50 states.

In New Mexico, 3.3% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. If you choose homeschooling in New Mexico, you’re required to teach specific subjects (including reading, math, and science), but specific standardized tests are not required. Your child may still be eligible to participate in sports or classes at your local public school, but requirements can vary by school, so be sure to ask for more information.

In New Mexico, it is required that you provide notice of your intent to homeschool within 30 days of starting and annually by August 1. It is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant. If you decide to return to public or private school, you should disenroll your student from the homeschool system through the New Mexico Public Education Department. Your student’s placement will be determined by age or their score on state achievement tests – the local school board will determine whether to accept credits.

If you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible education for your child and think homeschooling could fit the bill, read more resources specific to New Mexico.

New Mexico Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

K-12 education has changed a lot over the past three years! Today, many New Mexico families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are a couple of real examples of microschools and related resources in your state:

Inspira Learning in Albuquerque is a Christian microschool offering K-5 instruction from a professional teacher, as well as tutoring and enrichment programs.

Acton Academy microschools currently serve families in Albuquerque and Cedar Crest.

[nscw_school_finder]

Learning Pods

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
New Mexico Parents

For additional information about school choices in
New Mexico, visit these resources:

New Mexico Public Education Department

Public Charter Schools of New Mexico

Christian Association of Parent Educators – New Mexico (CAPE NM)

NewMexicoKidsCAN

Ace Scholarship s

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

New Jersey State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

If you live in New Jersey, you have access to more K-12 education options than you might realize. Navigating these options can help you find a school where your child thrives, but it can also feel overwhelming at first. This post will breakdown the main types of schools available to you in New Jersey, as well as provide additional education resources to help you find the best learning environment for your child.

There are a variety of school choices available to New Jersey families. You can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in New Jersey at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

New Jersey Traditional Public Schools

Most New Jersey families (81.6% of all K-12 students) choose traditional public schools, which are operated by school districts, free to attend, open to all students, and funded by federal, state, and local government. Did you know that New Jersey spends an average of $22,160 per public school student each year? You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel.

In New Jersey, the state allows each district decides to set its own open enrollment policies. Open enrollment refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located. New Jersey parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district or search choice districts at the New Jersey Department of Education. For the 2023-2024 school year, there are more than 120 participating choice districts! Each district has a unique choice application that families should submit directly to that district.

For students living farther than 2 or 2.5 miles from their public school of choice but closer than 20 miles, the sending district is responsible for transporting the child to their new school.

Open enrollment is an important public school choice, widening parents’ options and ensuring that their zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education. Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Jersey Department of Education. You can also learn more about open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

New Jersey Charter Schools

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that have extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods. In New Jersey, 3.9% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school. Charter schools can collaborate with traditional classrooms to share the fruits of their innovation. According to the New Jersey Department of Education, the state has about 90 charter schools in operation serving approximately 57,000 students. Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves, whether that be providing a Chinese immersion program or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum.

We interviewed administration at Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School, New Jersey’s first school with a specific focus on green, renewable energy. “Every school has a theme, every school has its own philosophy, and every parent should be given the chance to pick how they want to raise their child and what school they want the child to go to,” said school leader Oguz Yildiz. “School choice is one important way parents can play an active role in receiving the best education possible for their children.”

If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system is usually used to determine admittance. Many New Jersey charter schools have had waitlists in the past. In January 2023, the New Jersey Department of Education approved 11 charter school expansions, which will open an additional 2,299 charter school seats for students across nine cities and towns.

Free transportation is available to all students who attend charter schools in New Jersey and live within the district, but more than two miles from where their charter school is located. Students with special needs who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible to receive transportation assistance.

Check out more about your state’s charter schools at the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association. Families in Newark may also wish to explore charter schools using My Schools Newark.

New Jersey Magnet Schools

You can also choose magnets! Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to focus on specific themes, like STEM, health sciences, or the performing arts. An AgriScience program at Middlesex County Magnet Schools, for example, emphasizes food science and plant cultivation. If there’s a magnet school near you with a theme your child is interested in, this could be an exciting option to consider.

New Jersey has several magnet schools throughout the state. For instance, you can read about Montclair Public Schools’ approach to magnet schools, Union County Vocational-Technical Schools’ offerings, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical schools, Monmouth County Vocational School District’s options, and Newark Public Schools’ magnet schools. New Jersey Family posted this piece with some additional information on New Jersey’s magnet schools.

New Jersey Private Schools

Of course, private schools are another choice for New Jersey families. Private schools are nonpublic schools that charge tuition. There are more than 1,300 private schools across the state of New Jersey. 11.7% of all K-12 students in New Jersey attend a private school. You can find a complete list at the New Jersey Department of Education. The average tuition for private schools in the state is $14,234 for elementary schools and $18,871 for high schools.

These schools come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, we recently talked to Dr. Robert Beebe, Principal at New Hope School, a private K-8 school in Clifton, New Jersey. He told us about the private school’s character development program and partnership with parents, describing how the school was founded by a couple of moms who were looking for a values-based education for their children. “[Our approach to education] begins with what we call cultivation of the heart,” said Beebe. “This begins in the home before even coming to school. We should first of all be concerned about developing children’s hearts, which is the basis of their character.”

Unfortunately, there are no state-run scholarship options in New Jersey, though private scholarships may be available, such as through the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, the Student Partner Alliance, and The Wight Foundation. You can find additional tips for financing private school at New Jersey Family. Also, the federal government allows parents to save for K-12 private school tuition using tax-preferred 529 savings accounts.

Learn more at Catholic Partnership Schools, the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, and Private School Review: New Jersey.

New Jersey Online Learning

Don’t overlook online learning! It offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.

Unfortunately, New Jersey does not have a free, full-time online school option. However, New Jersey Virtual School offers full-time and credit-recovery enrollment to students in grades 6-12 for a fee. Also, starting in 2023, New Jersey Virtual School is partnering with Brookdale Community College to allow high school students to take college-level credits online. Enrollment at the virtual school typically begins in April and courses begin in September, but if students are interested in enrolling mid-year, they may be able to do so. Students attending New Jersey Virtual School must have access to technology and wifi.

Besides New Jersey Virtual School, students can also consider other paid online school options, like George Washington University Online High School, The Keystone School, Excel High School, Massachusetts Mayflower Academy, and K12 Private Academy.

Another part-time course option some New Jersey families may access through their local school is VHS Learning. You can ask your school if supplementary online courses are available to you.

To read more about online learning in New Jersey, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

New Jersey Homeschooling

Parents in all 50 states can also consider homeschooling, the process of educating students at home. Homeschooling offers opportunities for highly customized, personal learning. In New Jersey, there are more than 5,000 (2.8%) students homeschooling.

In New Jersey, it is not required that you provide notice of your intent to homeschool; however, it is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant. In the case that you decide to return to public school, your student’s placement may be based on standardized testing assessment.

The state requires homeschooling parents to give children an education that is academically “equivalent” to what he or she would receive at school, but does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers. Keep in mind that, while homeschool students in New Jersey are not legally prohibited from playing on public school sports teams, individual district policies often prevent them from participating. You can check with your local district about their policies, or look for other leagues and activities available to you!

You can also check out the New Jersey Department of Education and Home School Legal Defense Association – New Jersey.

New Jersey Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, many New Jersey families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and related resources in New Jersey:

Tranquil Teachings Learning Center is a private membership association offering flexible learning opportunities, including half-day and full day options, in Monmouth County.

The Village Electric is a flexible learning center in Mountainside that describes its offering as “colearning,” blending the benefits of homeschooling with the resources, staff, and community of a private school.

Founded by parents, Metsada Learning Network provides legal, technological, and administrative support to brick-and-mortar alternative learning initiatives in New Jersey.

Note that in New Jersey, providing care for more than six children under the age of 13 requires a childcare license.

[nscw_school_finder]

Learning Pods

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
New Jersey Parents

For additional information about school choices in New Jersey, visit these resources:

New Jersey Department of Education

New Jersey School Choice

The New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association

JerseyCAN

The Academy NJ

Tranquil Teachings

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

New Hampshire State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Each spring, parents face one of the biggest decisions they can make for their child’s future: What school environment will their child spend about 1,000 hours in next year? Let’s dive in to School Choice in New Hampshire.

Making that decision with confidence starts with knowing what options you have; you may have more school choices than you realize! Understanding these options can help you find a school where your child grows and learns to the best of their ability. New Hampshire families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in New Hampshire at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

New Hampshire Traditional Public Schools

Most New Hampshire families (84.1% of all K-12 students) choose traditional public schools. Districts operate these schools, which are free to attend, open to all students, and funded by taxpayers. New Hampshire spends, on average, $19,433 per public school student each year. You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel.

In New Hampshire, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Open enrollment refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located. New Hampshire parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. In 2021, the state made this process more defined for parents if their student is experiencing “manifest educational hardship.”

For a real-world example of the transfer process and timeline in New Hampshire, check out Kearsarge Regional School District’s guidelines for transfer requests. In general, if the public school of choice is within the same district, transportation is provided. If it is in a different school district, parents are responsible for transportation. Open enrollment is a valuable form of public school choice because it widens parents options, ensuring that their zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education.

The largest public school district in the state is Manchester, which enrolled more than 12,000 students as of fall 2022. Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Hampshire Department of Education. You can also learn more at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

New Hampshire Charter Schools

Families in New Hampshire have another tuition-free option in charter schools. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and usually have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is that they have extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods. Public charter schools are accountable to authorizing entities, such as colleges or school districts, for results.

In New Hampshire, there are about 30 public charter schools that parents can choose from across the state. These served 5,530 (3%) students in 2022-2023. Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves, whether that be providing a language immersion program or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system is usually used to determine admittance.

The New Hampshire Department of Education is currently in the process of supporting an expansion of charter schools across the state. One of New Hampshire’s newest charter schools is Benjamin Franklin Academy, a middle-high school opening September 2023 with a history-centered, liberal arts curriculum.

Free transportation is available to most students who attend charter schools in New Hampshire and live within the district where their charter school is located. The state requires transportation to be provided by the district, upon a parent’s request. Students with special needs who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible to receive transportation assistance.

You can learn about these options at the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

New Hampshire Magnet Schools

Depending on where you live in New Hampshire, you may also be able to consider a magnet school. Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the performing arts. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track.

Maple Street Magnet School is currently the only magnet school we are aware of in New Hampshire. This magnet school’s unique focus is on community and sustainability. Students accepted to the Maple Street Magnet School through its blind lottery can choose to attend the magnet school rather than their neighborhood school.

New Hampshire Private Schools

Families in New Hampshire can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. Private schools may offer a unique curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. New Hampshire’s more than 280 private schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs.

Private school tuition can vary widely, but the state average is $11,601 for elementary schools and $28,426 for high schools. According to New Hampshire’s Town Tuitioning Program, if your town doesn’t have a district school at your grade level, your district will pay for your child to attend a public or private school in or outside of New Hampshire. As of 2021, this may include religious private schools.

In addition, students from a household where family income is less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($90,000 for a family of four in 2023) can apply to the state’s tax credit program. Recipients of the program receive scholarships to use for private school tuition, tutoring, or other educational expenses.

Since 2021, New Hampshire also offers an “Education Freedom Account” program. This flexible program allows low and middle-income students to receive education grants to customize their learning. The funds can be used to choose a private school, pay for tutoring or books, put toward educational therapy, and more. As of 2023, this program is open to students from a household where family income is less than 350 percent of the federal poverty level ($105,000 for a family of four in 2023.) More than 4,000 children currently participate in the program. About 3.2% of all K-12 students in New Hampshire participate in a private school choice program.

Learn more at the Children’s Scholarship Fund-New Hampshire, Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Manchester, and Private School Review: New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Online Learning

New Hampshire elementary, middle, and high school students can take courses free of charge, full- or part-time, at Virtual Learning Academy Charter. If there will be a gap between attendance at a student’s previous school and their start at the virtual school, the student must file a notice of intent at their local public school. Homeschoolers can take up to six credits per year through the Virtual Learning Academy Charter.

One feature that makes the Virtual Learning Academy Charter unique is that it is mastery-based: students progress based on mastery of learning content, rather than a fixed schedule.

To read more about online learning in New Hampshire, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

New Hampshire Homeschooling

You can also choose homeschooling, the process of parents educating students at home. Homeschooling is permitted in all 50 states and allows for a highly personal and customizable learning experience.

In New Hampshire, 1.6% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. It is required that you provide notice of your intent to homeschool within 5 days of starting and/or if you move to a new school district. It is recommended that you formally withdraw so your student is not marked truant. If you decide to stop homeschooling, you must file a written notice of termination. In the case that you decide to return to public school, your student’s placement will be determined based on the documentation you provide.

The state requires homeschooling parents to teach specific subjects (including science, math, reading, and government) and also requires some level of assessment of homeschooled students. In New Hampshire, your homeschooled student might still be eligible to participate in sports or activities at the local public school – contact your district if you are interested in this option.

Homeschoolers may be eligible* to apply for New Hampshire’s “Education Freedom Account” program, which allows low and middle-income students to receive about $4,700 of funds to customize their education. The funds can be used for tutoring or books, educational therapy, and more. In 2023, eligibility for the program was expanded – now students from families earning up to 350% of the federal poverty line can apply.

*Families currently participating in home education must terminate their home education status before applying for the EFA. Participation in the EFA program requires participants to be enrolled in a non-public school that complies with state regulations. In practice, this can still include educating children at home, but comes with a different legal status and relationship with a scholarship organization, that true “homeschooling” does not. For more information, check out Children’s Scholarship Fund’s FAQ‘s.

For more, check out a how-to about homeschooling in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, some New Hampshire families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and related resources in New Hampshire:

Latitude Learning Resources offers enrichment programs — from Lego clubs to language classes — for homeschoolers in Derry.

New Hampshire’s Learn Everywhere initiative aims to allow high school students to gain high school credits outside of schools, through community activities and extracurriculars.

nLighten Learning provides small learning pods for both homeschoolers and students enrolled in accredited virtual schools, focusing on individualized, mastery-based education in a nurturing environment.

In New Hampshire, some school districts have partnered with Prenda to offer district-run Learning Support Groups. These groups served about 100 students in the 2021-2022 school year.

For homeschool students and virtual school students in New Hampshire, KaiPod Learning offers free Learning Support Groups. Students attending “KaiPods” receive opportunities to socialize, collaborate, and receive educational support while completing their chosen curriculum.

The Harkness House caps classes at 12 students and offers a student-led curriculum that aims to foster discovery and life-long learning.

New Hampshire’s state commissioner of education has said that learning pods are permitted by New Hampshire law and families may have family members or friends supervise children in the parent’s absence.

[nscw_school_finder]

Learning Pods

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
New Hampshire Parents

For additional information about school choices in New Hampshire, visit these resources:

New Hampshire Department of Education

Granite State Home Educators

New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Children’s Scholarship Fund – New Hampshire

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Nevada State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

No pressure, but education is a big decision! After all, it has a huge impact on your child’s future. Fortunately, Nevada families have access to several K-12 options. Navigating these school choice options can help you find a school where your child thrives. This post will breakdown the main types of schools and provide some extra education resources.

In Nevada, families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in Nevada at the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

Traditional Public Schools

First off, you can choose traditional public schools, the most common school choice. In fact, 63.6% of all of K-12 students in Nevada attend a traditional public school. These schools are operated by school districts, free to attend, open to all students, and funded by federal, state, and local government. Did you know that Nevada spends an average of $10,450 per public school student each year?

Each state has its own open enrollment policies. Open enrollment refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located. In Nevada, each district creates its own open enrollment policies; so, you should check with your local district if you would like to transfer your child. If your assigned school participates in open enrollment, it may cover transportation costs.

For an example of the transfer process and timeline in Nevada, check out Clark County School District’s change of school assignment application. Open enrollment is an important form of public school choice, widening parents’ options and ensuring that their zip code isn’t the sole determiner of their education.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the Nevada Department of Education. You can also learn more about Nevada open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

Nevada Charter Schools

Families in Nevada can also choose public charter schools. In Nevada, 13.1% of all K-12 students attend a public charter school. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and usually have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is they have extra freedom to innovate with learning methods and are accountable to authorizing bodies for results.

Nevada has about 90 charter schools families can choose from. Each school has a charter which explains the school’s purpose and what specific community need it serves. That could be providing a STEAM program or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system (like drawing random names out of a hat!) is often used to determine admittance. In Nevada, public charter schools don’t currently receive state transportation funding, so in many cases families must transport their charter students.

Free transportation may be available to some students in Nevada. If transportation is not provided, schools must collaborate with parents to find a solution. Students with special needs who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible to receive transportation assistance.

A great resource for learning more about charter schools is the Charter School Association of Nevada.

Nevada Magnet Schools

You can also choose magnet schools! In Nevada, 13% of all K-12 students attend a public magnet school. Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to focus on specific themes, like STEM, health sciences, or the arts. A Las Vegas Sun article once described magnet schools as “schools within schools.” In other words, they offer specialty tracks within the public school system. So, these can be a valuable option for children who learn best when diving deeply into a particular course of study.

Nevada has several magnet schools throughout the state; for instance, there are more than 35 magnet schools or programs in the Clark County School District. One of these, Southeast Career Technical Academy, was voted the best magnet school in America in 2022! The district is opening an additional career-focused magnet school in 2023: Northeast Career and Technical Academy. Besides career tech, the district’s magnet schools have focuses that range from the performing arts to STEM to hospitality and tourism. Another large district with magnet schools is the Washoe County School District.

Nevada Private Schools

Nevada’s private schools take many forms, from Catholic parish schools to non-sectarian Montessori schools. All private schools are nonpublic schools that charge tuition.

There are more than 170 private schools across the state of Nevada. The average tuition for private schools in the state is $10,544 for elementary schools and $11,407 for high schools. Private schools in Nevada provide the same number of days of instruction and private school teachers must hold a teacher’s license or meet another requirement.

In 2015, Nevada launched a school choice program that enables families at or below 300% of the federal poverty line ($83,250 for a family of four in 2022-2023) to apply for scholarships for private education. Currently, 0.3% of all K-12 students participate in this program. If you think a private school could be the best fit for your child, you can also reach out to the school about whether any privately funded scholarships are available.

Learn more at Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Reno and Private School Review: Nevada.

Nevada Online Learning

Don’t overlook online learning. It offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter, stress-free environment in which to focus, you may wish to try virtual school.

Nevada offers several free, full-time online learning options, some of the largest of which are Nevada Connections Academy, Nevada Learning Academy, Leadership Academy of Nevada, and Nevada Virtual Academy. The Nevada Department of Education provides a complete list of distance learning options, some of which are district-specific and some of which are open to students across districts. Some of the full-time options operated by specific districts include North Star Online School in Washoe County, Pioneer Academy in Carson City, and Northeastern Nevada Virtual Academy in Elko County.

Odyssey Charter School is a hybrid option for K-12 students that may benefit from face-to-face sessions once a week.

To read more about online learning in Nevada, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

Nevada Homeschooling

Homeschooling is another school option for Nevada families. This choice is especially suited to those looking for a hands-on, highly customizable learning experience. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home and is permitted in all 50 states.

In Nevada, 5.7% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. The state requires a notice of intent to homeschool before you start and no later than 10 days after withdrawing from a school (it is required that you formally withdraw from your public school). In the case that you decide to return to public school, your student’s placement may be subject to testing and review of their work.

If you choose homeschooling, you’re required to teach specific subjects (including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health), but specific standardized tests are not required. Your homeschooled student might still be eligible to participate in sports or activities at the local public school. Plus, homeschoolers with special needs are eligible to receive special education services from local school districts.

You may also want to check out the Nevada Department of Education – Homeschooling, Home School Legal Defense Association – Nevada, Nevada Homeschool Network, Nevada Moms, and RISE Education Resource Center.

Nevada Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, many Nevada families are blending school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and related resources in your state:

The National Microschooling Center is based out of Las Vegas and offers a plethora of resources for families and educators interested in microschooling. MicroschoolingNV is the National Center’s local partner.

Hope Academy is a microschool and homeschool co-op based in Carson City that offers à la carte courses.

Also, Nevada Action for School Options has created a series of explainer videos on microschooling.

The Rainbow Room is a part-time, full-day drop-off program for homeschoolers in Las Vegas.

Mission Possible Montessori provides Montessori education for children from preschool to 6th grade in Las Vegas.

Desert Peach Montessori, an affiliate of Wildflower Schools, offers Montessori education to preschool and kindergarten students in Reno.

Bloom Academy is the first and only self-directed microschool learning center in Las Vegas.

Nevada School of Inquiry is an inquiry-based learning microschool in Las Vegas.

The Learning Outpost is a project-based homeschool learning center founded by a teacher.

[nscw_school_finder]

Learning Pods

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
Nevada Parents

For additional information about school choices in
Nevada, visit these resources:

Nevada Department of Education

The Nevada School Choice Coalition

Charter School Association of Nevada

Nevada Homeschool Network

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Nebraska State Guide

Home / Roadmap / Page 2

This Content Has a New Home!

Your journey to the perfect education fit just got easier. Check out this page in action on our new site and navigate school choice with ease at MySchoolChoice.com.

View on Navigate

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Each spring, parents face one of the biggest decisions they can make for their child’s future: What school environment will their child spend about 1,000 hours in next year?

Making that decision with confidence starts with knowing what options you have; you may have more school choices than you realize! Understanding these options can help you find a school where your child grows and learns to the best of their ability. Nebraska families can choose from traditional public schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

What’s new in 2024?

The Opportunity Scholarship program is expanding, providing education funding directly to eligible families and benefiting more students. Stay tuned for more details! For now, the Opportunity Scholarship application is now open for the 2024-2025 school year! Families can contact a participating school to apply. Learn more about eligibility.

Traditional Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Online Schools
Homeschool
Microschooling

Nebraska Traditional Public Schools

Most children (86.8% of all K-12 students) in Nebraska attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by school districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. Each year, Nebraska spends an average of $13,826 per public school student. You can search your school’s spending and that of nearby schools at Project Nickel.

Nebraska has flexible open enrollment for public schools. What this means is that you are likely able to send your child to any public district in Nebraska, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. For a real-world example, see how Grand Island Public Schools accepts students outside of the city’s limits. You can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools and discovering which is the best fit for your family. You can also read the Nebraska Department of Education’s answers to frequently asked questions about switching school districts in your state.

In 2023, Nebraska improved transparency about open enrollment, signing a bill requiring school districts to post their open enrollment policies on their websites.

When a student uses open enrollment in Nebraska, transportation is typically the responsibility of the parents or provided by the receiving district for a fee, unless the student is eligible for free or reduced price lunch, part of a diversity focus program, or a student with learning disabilities, in which case transportation is typically free.

Find out more about public schools in your state at the Nebraska Department of Education. You can also read more about Nebraska open enrollment at “Public Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.”

Nebraska Charter Schools

Nebraska currently does not have any public charter schools, but charters may be in Nebraska’s future! Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are allowed extra freedom to innovate while being held accountable for student achievement. Nebraska is one of only four states that have not passed laws allowing for the creation of public charter schools.

Nebraska Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the performing arts. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. Nebraska has a handful of magnet schools scattered throughout the state, and these might be a good option if your child learns best by focusing in on a subject they are passionate about. For instance, Omaha Public Schools has both elementary school magnet programs (like Conestoga Elementary School) and high school magnet programs (like Benson Magnet High School).

Nebraska Private Schools

Families in Nebraska can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. Private schools may offer a unique curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. Nebraska’s more than 220 private schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs. In Nebraska, 10% of all K-12 students attend a private school.

The average tuition for private schools in the state is $3,610 for elementary schools and $7,880 for high schools.

Under a new model, eligible families may be eligible for a private school voucher under the Opportunity Scholarship Act, which can be used for private school expenses, including tuition and transportation. Low-income families will receive priority (families that earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level), students with a parent in the armed forces, and students already receiving an education scholarship under the Opportunity Scholarship Act may be eligible for a voucher amounting up to $5,000. Read more in our full explainer!

Additionally, the federal government does allow parents in all 50 states to save for K-12 private school tuition using tax-preferred 529 savings accounts.

Learn more at Children’s Scholarship Fund-Omaha and Private School Review: Nebraska.

Nebraska Online Learning

Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.

While the majority of states have free, public online programs available to families statewide, Nebraska does not currently have that option. But, families can choose a paid option: University of Nebraska High School Online. Other paid options, like George Washington University Online High School, The Keystone School, Excel High School, and K12 Private Academy, are also available to Nebraska families but are not state-specific. Families interested in enrolling at University of Nebraska High School Online can do so at any point during the year; there is no deadline for enrollment.

Additionally, some districts are developing their own online programs for students. For example, Lincoln Consolidated Schools students can choose the fully online LCS Virtual Academy. Omaha Public Schools offers local students Omaha Virtual School, a blended learning program that incorporates both in-person sessions and at-home online classes.

To read more about online learning in Nebraska, check out the Digital Learning Collaborative’s state profile.

Nebraska Homeschooling

Nebraska families can also choose to homeschool their children, which allows for a highly customizable and personalized learning experience. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home and is permitted in all 50 states.

In Nebraska, 3.2% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. The state of Nebraska requires notice of your intent to homeschool by July 15 or promptly upon choosing to homeschool. The state also requires an annual information survey and parent representative form. It is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant.

If you choose homeschooling, you’re required to teach specific subjects (including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health), but specific standardized tests are not required. If you choose to enroll your child part-time at the local public school, your child may be eligible to participate in sports and other activities.

In the case that you decide to return to public school during the school year, you must notify the Nebraska Department of Education in writing.

To learn more, check out a roundup of homeschooling resources specific to Nebraska.

Nebraska Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Today, many Nebraska families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. Microschools are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.

Here are real examples of microschools and related resources in Nebraska:

Trinity Academy, a Lutheran microschool in the classical liberal arts educational tradition, is launching in fall 2023 on the campus of Nebraska’s Concordia University in Seward.

Masterpiece Academy in Omaha is a microschool founded by a former public school teacher to help small groups of learners discover their passions and overcome challenges. Full-time and part-time educational support is available.

Acton Academy Lincoln is a learner-driven microschool serving all grades K-12 in Lincoln.

[nscw_school_finder]

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

How can it empower parents and help kids achieve their dreams?

7 Step Guide

Tips to help you find a school where your daughter or son will learn, succeed, and be happy.

View Guide

Education Resources for
Nebraska Parents

For additional information about school choices in
Nebraska, visit these resources:

Nebraska Department of Education

School Choice Nebraska

Nebraska Homeschool

Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

"*" indicates required fields

Email Address*

Select A State*

Select Another State*

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This Content Has a New Home!

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Pennsylvania Traditional Public Schools

Pennsylvania Charter Schools

Pennsylvania Magnet Schools

Pennsylvania Private Schools

Pennsylvania Online Learning

Pennsylvania Homeschooling

Pennsylvania Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Download the School Choice Snapshot for Pennsylvania

What is School Choice

Choosing the Right School

Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

7 Step Guide

Education Resources forPennsylvania Parents

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

This Content Has a New Home!

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Oregon Traditional Public Schools

Oregon Charter Schools

Oregon Magnet Schools

Oregon Private Schools

Oregon Online Learning

Oregon Homeschooling

Oregon Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Download the School Choice Snapshot for Oregon

What is School Choice

Choosing the Right School

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

7 Step Guide

Education Resources forOregon Parents

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

This Content Has a New Home!

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Oklahoma Traditional Public Schools

Oklahoma Charter Schools

Oklahoma Magnet Schools

Oklahoma Private Schools

Oklahoma Online Learning

Oklahoma Homeschooling

Oklahoma Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Download the School Choice Snapshot for Oklahoma

What is School Choice

Choosing the Right School

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

7 Step Guide

Education Resources forOklahoma Parents

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

This Content Has a New Home!

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

Ohio Traditional Public Schools

Ohio Charter Schools

Ohio Magnet Schools

Ohio Private Schools

Ohio Online Learning

Ohio Homeschooling

Ohio Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Download the School Choice Snapshot for Ohio

What is School Choice

Choosing the Right School

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

7 Step Guide

Education Resources forOhio Parents

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

This Content Has a New Home!

Choosing a school? You’ve got options.

North Dakota Traditional Public Schools

North Dakota Charter Schools

North Dakota Magnet Schools

North Dakota Private Schools

North Dakota Online Learning

North Dakota Homeschooling

North Dakota Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning

Download the School Choice Snapshot for North Dakota

What is School Choice

Choosing the Right School

Microschooling and Mix-and-Match Learning

7 Step Guide

Education Resources forNorth Dakota Parents

Every state is different when it comes to school choice options.

Education Resources for
Pennsylvania Parents

Education Resources for
Oregon Parents

Education Resources for
Oklahoma Parents

Education Resources for
Ohio Parents

Education Resources for
North Dakota Parents

Education Resources for
North Carolina Parents

Education Resources for
New York Parents

Education Resources for
New Mexico Parents