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New Vision Charter School

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What is a Charter School?

Difference Between Charter And Public Schools

Parents and families want the best for their children, which means education often becomes a serious talking point when considering the future. The right school, and right teachers, can make all the difference in a child’s life and educational success — and this is something that all families know. When discussions of choosing the right school for a child come up, families hear some familiar buzzwords — such as “charter school” and “public school” — but not really know what they mean.

Our charter school in Loveland is here to explain how exactly we’re different from public schools, and to provide some knowledge about these various paths of education. Ultimately, teachers and schools do everything they can to provide for their students and their community, regardless of school type. But at New Vision Charter School, we know that we can offer an educational experience that can’t be replicated elsewhere. See some differences between charter schools and public schools, and enroll with New Vision today!

How Are Charter Schools Different From Public Schools?

As the graphic above shows, there are a number of similarities and differences for both charter and public schools.

A lot of this depends on the district. In some counties, the schools are open enrollment, meaning that families can choose which public school to send their child to. This is similar to charter schools, in which parents can apply to send their child to virtually any charter school (as long as they can get them there).
In counties and districts that are not open enrollment, children attend schools based on district and boundary lines. This might not always mean the direct neighborhood is the only one feeding into the school — oftentimes, children are bussed in, depending on current enrollment (as well as other factors, such as offering more equitable opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds). In this situation, charter schools are different from public schools, because attendance is not based on where someone lives.

Again, much of this depends on the circumstances of the individual public school district that’s being compared to a charter school. In any case, public schools cannot turn students away — if their numbers are at capacity or higher and the incoming, new students are in district, they will have a place at the school. Even in most open enrollment public school districts, a family will not be allowed to send their child to the school of their choice, if the numbers of that school are full. The child would instead have to go to their neighborhood school.

Once a public school is at or past capacity, they now qualify for more full time employees/educators — but as this keeps growing or a new school is built, the numbers are likely to remain high*. Conversely, charter schools operate on an admissions basis. If numbers are full, or if there are more applicants than capacity allows for, a lottery-based system is often put into place (though this is not always the case, it can vary from school to school).

Public and charter schools are both funded by the state, but as We Are Teachers states, “Charter schools receive limited funds from local taxes or municipal bonds. Instead, they rely on grants, awards, and donations for supplemental funding and capital expenditures.” Funding at a charter school, when compared to a public school, can run the gamut — it could be significant more, or relatively the same, depending on the area and the school.

Public and charter schools are both funded by the state, but as We Are Teachers states, “Charter schools receive limited funds from local taxes or municipal bonds. Instead, they rely on grants, awards, and donations for supplemental funding and capital expenditures.” Funding at a charter school, when compared to a public school, can run the gamut — it could be significant more, or relatively the same, depending on the area and the school.

*Certain states have regulations that limit the number of students to a classroom, such as a Title I School that permits no more than 19 students in K-3 classes.

Join Our Loveland Charter School Community

New Vision Charter School provides above-and-beyond opportunities for each and every one of our students. From extended learning activities to encore courses, your child will be in an environment where they can truly thrive. Set your child up for success — start with our Loveland charter school today, and have a great school year!