Knowing what your options are gives you a way to compare what you’ve got and know if you’re getting a fair deal. Options also give you a back-up in case what you’re doing right now doesn’t work.

Public schools are paid for by, well, the public, through local and state taxes. By law, public schools must educate all children, including students with special needs. To enroll in a public school you simply register your child by filling out the necessary paperwork. Most public schools offer a general program, which usually includes math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education. Most good public schools offer programs in music and art. The curriculum should be based on state standards and will be measured through standardized tests.

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from a district. They often offer a more specialized or experimental program. They are still free and the school may not turn away applicants. If the school receives more applicants than it has room for, most use a system like a lottery to decide whom to admit, and whom to put on a waiting list. Although students must meet state requirements and pass statewide exams, charter schools often have the freedom to set their own rules on issues like curriculum, teaching style, hiring and firing and the length of the school day and year.

Magnet schools are public schools that specialize in subjects like science or the arts. Or they may offer a certain approach to teaching and learning, like open classrooms or Montessori. Magnets differ from "regular" or "zoned" schools in another way also. For example, enrollment is open to students outside the neighborhood of the school. Finally, students and parents choose the school, instead of being assigned to the school. Like other public schools, magnets must meet city and state requirements in areas such as curriculum, student body diversity, and the selection, hiring, and retention of teachers. They are also subject to state and local budget allocations.

Intra-district choice (also called local schools-of-choice or open enrollment) refers to a district's policy about letting parents enroll their child in any district school, no matter where they live. Families may choose this option to find a school closer to their child care provider, or because they prefer a principal or program at a school across town. Not all districts allow this choice. Those that do often limit the number of seats available, offering them first to families within the school’s neighborhood.

Inter-district choice (sometimes called schools-of-choice or open enrollment) allows parents to enroll their children in neighboring school districts. However, learning about all the rules and regulations of Inter-district choice can be confusing. Talking first with the district you would like to tranfer to is usually the best way to start. In Michigan, for example, parents now have two options when enrolling their children in public school:

  • Under Section 105, a pupil may transfer from one local school district to another within the same county or intermediate school district (ISD)
  • Under Section 105c, a pupil may transfer from a local school district in one ISD to another local school district in a contiguous (or neighboring) ISD. In this case, contiguous is strictly defined: the neighboring ISD's borders must be in physical contact with the ISD in which the student resides. 

Public Schools are funded from tuition, fundraising, and private grants. If you send your child to a private school, you can expect to pay tuition ranging anywhere from $2,000 to over $10,000 per year. Some schools and outside groups offer scholarships to families with economic challenges. Private schools are selective, meaning they don’t have to accept your child. In many private schools admission is very competitive.

Parochial Schools are private schools that are run by a religious organization. They vary widely in education philosophy and in how much religion is included in each school day. Some schools add worship services and spiritual classes to an otherwise secular curriculum of reading, writing, mathematics, science, etc. Others include a religious perspective while teaching every subject. Most parochial schools are less expensive than other independent private schools. Often, but not always, the church subsidizes the costs of the school and may even help families with scholarships or grants.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, although the laws and regulations vary widely from state to state. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has a guide to the laws in all 50 states. Homeschooling is an alternative to public or private schooling for a growing number of families. Some families keep their children home because they weren’t getting what they needed at school. Some school them at home because of their religious beliefs. Others think they can give their children a better education. There are even some whose children have medical needs that keep them from attending school with other children.