School Choices: A Lot More Than Public or Catholic
Under a very broad definition, an alternative school is any school that differs from the traditional public system. More clarification is needed to make sense of all the different choices parents face today in deciding what education method they should choose for their child.
Alternative schools often use non-traditional methods to educate. They break from the mainstream and offer items that are not usually part of traditional schools’ mandate. Their programs follow a certain philosophy or engage around an innovative procedure; an example of this is Green Learning Academy, who base their philosophy around Student-Directed Teaching.
The plethora of school choices available today include: Academic Schools, Alternative Schools, Boarding Schools, Catholic Schools, Charter Schools, Language Schools, Magnet Schools, Military Schools, Name-Sake Philosophy Schools, Religious Schools, Special Needs Schools, Sports Schools, Subject-Focused Schools (art, science, etc.) and Traditional Schools. I summarize each type below.
The big question parents have, though, is “what is the best school for my child?” Parents need to investigate all options available to them: gone are the days when the local public school is the only choice. Today’s parents have more options then ever before and the task of sorting through it all can be daunting. Understanding the different types of schools is really the first step towards making an informed decision.
