Is Charter School Better Than Public Schools?

Alternative education is not a new phenomenon. In fact, alternatives like homeschooling and Montessori education have long been sought out.

Parents have diverse reasons for seeking out alternative education—mistrust in traditional education, advanced placement opportunities, and more. Nevertheless, many seek charter schools as a positive and trustworthy alternative to public school.

This begs the question to be answered: Is charter school better than public school?

In this article, we will discuss how charter schools stand apart from public schools and if they are in fact better than public schools.

Is charter school better than public school?

Diverse Curriculum

The biggest defining factor of many charter schools is their curriculum. Charter schools are public entities that act independently of school districts. In fact, Arizona charter schools have the fewest regulations and restrictions in the country, according to The Center for Education Reform.

For this reason, charter schools are afforded the opportunity to create a diverse and intensive curriculum. To demonstrate, AMS Charter schools focus heavily on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.

Why?

As the United States quickly progresses to a more technologically advanced environment, the need for tech-savvy individuals increases. Schools like AMS Charter prepare students for a future in tech with a hands-on STEM education that encourages critical thinking and independent learning.

To emphasize, AMS employs challenging, research-based, and field-tested curricula that consistently meets Arizona state standards and exceeds parent expectations.

All in all, charter schools better prepare students for higher education as well as challenge students to strive for greater achievements.

Learn more about AMS Charter STEM curriculum.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular opportunities like art class, language clubs, team sports, and music courses have long been a staple of traditional public school education. However, in previous years, federal budget cuts have severely constrained public school budgets and their ability to fund extracurricular activities.

To elaborate, schools may allocate funds to core subjects instead of extracurricular activities. Nevertheless, this has a profound effect on students. Extracurricular activities instill values like teamwork, responsibility, and create a sense of community.

In comparison, charter school extracurricular programs are not solely dependant on federal or state funding. Private funding ensures that extracurricular activities remain available year-around despite federal budget cuts.

Browse extracurricular activities and clubs available at AMS Charter.

Academic Results

As said before, charter schools are private entities. Nonetheless, charter schools are required to participate in state testing and federal accountability programs.

And, the results?

Charter schools regularly score higher than traditional public schools in state standardized tests.

In general, this result can be credited to the academic freedom that charter schools have. In addition, nontraditional lessons and smaller class sizes engage students.

Make the Decision

Is charter school better than public schools?

The evidence suggests that charter schools do have several benefits over public schools. Charter schools offer advanced curriculum, facilitate creative extracurricular activities, and deliver high-achieving results.

Nevertheless, the decision to enroll your child into a charter school is yours. Consider your child’s education needs in order to determine whether a charter school is appropriate for them.