Frequently Asked Questions

Charter schools are public schools. Like district schools, charter schools are publically funded, yet diverge significantly in their operational structures and academic programming. Charter schools operate independently, enjoying greater autonomy in curriculum design and teaching methods. This flexibility allows them to implement specialized programs or unique learning approaches. While charter schools like public schools typically serve all students within their district, charter schools may have selective admissions processes, such as lotteries. Furthermore governance differs, with public schools governed by elected school boards and charter schools by their own independent boards. Ultimately, charter schools operate with a greater degree of independence in exchange for demonstrating accountability to their established performance benchmarks.