What's a Magnet Anyway? (And Other Things You Wish You Knew About Schools)

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How Schools Differ

Choosing a school is not exactly easy. Proximity, money, and a child's specific learning needs are all factors that come into play when finding the one that fits best.

While you can be relatively sure that a private school will have a price tag, there are other options like magnets, charters and virtual schools. But what exactly is the difference between these schools?

Click through the gallery to learn more about the kind of schools your state has to offer.

Photo: Katrina Wittkamp/Getty Images

Independent Private Schools

An independent private school is run by a board of governors or trustees and is accountable to its students. Private schools are funded by tuition payments, donations and their endowments.

Each has its own admission process, which usually involves an application, an admission test (Secondary School Admission Test [SSAT] and Independent School Entrance Exam [ISEE]) and potentially an interview.

These schools do not receive funding from the state, nor do they need to be accredited by the state. Their students are not required to take standardized tests, except the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test every four years. Private schools can contract with a teachers’ union, though this is extremely rare. Most are free to hire, fire and pay teachers by the terms of the contract they set. Private schools do not have to go through district or union rules in solving problems or making decisions about policy.

Private school curriculum is geared toward individual development and achievement. They may focus a student’s classes or learning plan on areas where they need to improve. Private high schools have a better graduation rate and college admission rate than their public school counterparts.

Photo: Loozrboy/Creative Commons via Flickr

Parochial Schools

Parochial schools are private schools that have some type of religious affiliation, be it with a diocese, parish or non-Christian denomination.

To attend a parochial school, students need to apply and take an admission test (often the Secondary School Admission Test [SSAT] and Independent School Entrance Exam [ISEE]). Most parochial schools do not require that a student share the same religion as the school, but regardless, students are required to attend religious services and take religious education classes.

Parochial schools are funded by the religious organization that supports them, tuition payments, and private donations or their endowments (should they have one). Educators at parochial institutions do not have to be trained or certified and may be clergy members.

The curriculum at a parochial school is outlined in their charter, or set forth by their board or trustees or governors. Most schools are less concerned with meeting state standards than they are with the individual development of a student. Some are accredited by their states, but their curriculum is not required to meet state standards. Their students do not need to take standardized tests (except the National Assessment of Education Progress [NAEP] test, which they must take every four years).

Catholic high schools in 2008 had the highest graduation rate in the country and generally have higher college admission rates than public schools.

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Proprietary Schools

A proprietary school is a private school, and occasionally a charter school, run by an education management organization on a for-profit basis. The schools seek to make money with the hope of providing their tuition-paying students with the best education possible.

While some are accredited by the state, they do not have to be. They are not required to comply with state standards or take standardized tests, but every four years their students need to take the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test. Private school students scored better than public school students in most categories.

Students have to apply to be admitted and may have to take a specific entrance exam or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) or Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).

While each school is individual in the quality of education it provides, private school students in general do show a better high school graduation rate and college admissions rates.

Photo: Nicholas Prior/Getty Images

Public Schools

Public schools are open to the public and are usually attended by students who live within that schools district, though it is possible to transfer within districts. These schools are funded by taxpayer dollars and run by their school district (at the local level). The district is accountable to the state’s department of education and ultimately the taxpayers.

The curriculum of a public school is determined by standards set forth by the state’s board of education and by national standards. Students who attend public school are subject to all of the standardized tests required at the district, state and national level.

Public schools hire union teachers and must abide by the terms of the union agreement. Teachers at public schools are eligible to receive tenure as designated in those agreements, and can only be fired for violating parts of the agreement.

Public high school students graduate and are admitted to universities at lower rates than private school students.

Photo: Martin Shields/Getty Images

Charter Schools

A charter school is a type of public school. The school’s main goal is to achieve the standards it sets forth in its charter. Like a traditional public school, it receives funding from the state, must abide by many of the same rules and regulations, and requires its students to take standardized tests.

A charter is unique because it has more freedom over it curriculum—from what it teaches, to how it’s taught. Charters also have more freedom in hiring and firing teachers. The principal or charter operator usually has full control of the process. Charter schools can be unionized, but only about 12 percent in America are.

To attend a charter school, you need to request enrollment and potentially fill out an application. You will also need to take part in a lottery. Unfortunately, because space is limited, not all the kids who want to get into charter schools can. Currently, there are more than 600,000 children waitlisted.

There are no tuition payments at a charter school, but charters may request that parents volunteer at the school for a certain number of hours or be involved in the school in some other way.

Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images

Magnet Schools

A magnet school is a public school focused on providing a specific type of education, such as technology, science, or art.

Many magnet schools require an entrance exam for admission, or in the case of some arts-focused magnets, a sincere interest in the subject. The schools are funded by their states, and must comply with the state and local standards of other public schools.

Magnet schools are meant to be incredibly diverse, while still drawing from children who live within the district.

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Homeschooling

Homeschooled students are taught by their parents or, in rare cases, a private teacher. Every state has its own set of rules on how to homeschool a child. Homeschooling provides a great deal of freedom in regards to when class takes place, and how students are taught.

Parents who choose to homeschool their children must do so out of pocket. They receive no financial support from their districts or from the states. Some organizations give grants to aid homeschooling efforts.

Students who are homeschooled should be taught by state standards, since homeschooled students are responsible for taking standardized tests like any other public school student.

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Virtual Schools

Virtual schools offer online courses for K-12 students that are transferable for public school credits. Virtual schools are continuously evolving with technology and may range from a group of students meeting in a classroom online, to videos of an instructor reading off lessons.

Each state has a list of virtual schools that it has approved. Individual schools or districts are responsible for allocating funds to them for completed online classes. Usually students need a reason for wanting to take classes online, such as health, travel or some other circumstance that keeps them away from school.

Students have the freedom to complete online courses at the convenience of their schedules and learn at their own pace. They can interact with online teachers over email or the phone. Also, if a school district lacks a specific advanced course, students can take the class online.

Students who are enrolled in virtual schools are required to take the same standardized tests as public school students.

Photo: Farah Nosh/Getty Images

See More Actions

What kids are taught in one state is different from what kids are taught in another, better preparing some students for college and the job market than their peers. Stand For Children wants all U.S. governors to commit to implement the Common Core Standards so that all high school graduates will be ready to compete in the global marketplace.

To:

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas

Mark Dayton, Governor of Minnesota

Sean Parnell, Governor of Alaska

Dave Heineman, Governor of Nebraska

Bob McDonnell, Governor of Virginia

33% Complete

Ongoing

1,695 signatures of 5,000 goal

We Did It!

We've reached our goal and sent 10,000 signatures to the governors of Texas, Minnesota, Alaska, Nebraska and Virginia.

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Sign The Petition

Full Petition Text

Dear Governor,

Too many of our high school students are not prepared for either college or for the jobs of the 21st century. We need clear, consistent, and high education standards that will prepare all students in our state and across the country for a 21st century economy.

I urge you to take the Governor's Pledge to support the implementation of rigorous world-class standards, such as the Common Core State Standards Initiative, and to support other policies that will fully realize these standards for every one of our school children.

Governor's Pledge on Common Core Standards: In today's world, we must adequately prepare our students for life beyond high school. Our students will be leaving our schools and competing for jobs not just with students from other states but with graduates from other countries. The best way to accelerate our state's economic recovery is to invest in today's students--who will be tomorrow's workers.

Therefore, I hereby pledge to support the timely and full implementation of the high-quality and consistent Common Core Standards in my state, including a plan that insures that these standards reach every classroom. I will fully support policies that make these standards meaningful and applicable to every student.

It is in the interest of our children, our state and our nation to better prepare our students for life beyond high school. Clear, consistent, and high quality standards will help restore America to be the world's leader in innovation and productivity.

Sincerely,

Your Name

About The Petition

Forty-five U.S. states and the District of Columbia have adopted the same set of guidelines for what public school students should be learning in reading and math. These are called the Common Core Standards.

When state governors pledge to adopt these standards for their schools, they will ensure that students get increased time with informational reading and be challenged to read at their grade level. They will also focus more deeply and rigorously on the most important basic math topics.

Stand For Children is encouraging the remaining governors (from the states of Texas, Alaska, Nebraska, Minnesota and Virginia) to incorporate the Common Core Standards into their instructional guidelines for public schools. You can join them by signing the petition below.

Thanks For Signing!

You're helping Stand For Children advocate for the inclusion of the Common Core Standards in schools across America.

Related Stories on TakePart:

• When 40,000 Kids Struggle to Read, Should We Hold Them All Back?

• What’s Got Seattle Teachers Fed Up and Firing Back?

• Ticked Off Moms Pull Parent Trigger at One of California’s Worst Schools

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Andrew Freeman is a California native with a degree in history from UCLA. He’s covered a wide range of topics for TakePart, but is particularly interested in politics and policy. Email Andrew |@natureofdabeast | TakePart.com

What's a Magnet Anyway? (And Other Things You Wish You Knew About Schools)

How Schools Differ

Photo: Katrina Wittkamp/Getty Images

Independent Private Schools

Photo: Loozrboy/Creative Commons via Flickr

Parochial Schools

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Proprietary Schools

Photo: Nicholas Prior/Getty Images

Public Schools

Photo: Martin Shields/Getty Images

Charter Schools

Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images

Magnet Schools

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Homeschooling

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Virtual Schools

Photo: Farah Nosh/Getty Images

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