San Diego Charter Schools

San Diego County is home to a wide variety of charter schools. The attraction for many families is that charter schools are free to be innovative in the way they teach children while also being held accountable for student results. The schools operate on the basics of choice (families and teachers choose to be there), accountability (schools are judged on how well they meet their charter’s goals for students and as a business), and freedom (schools are free of much of the bureaucratic red tape surrounding traditional public schools). Because charter schools are public schools, they receive funding according to enrollment.

San Diego Cooperative Charter School

Selecting a Charter School

If you are interested in learning more about charter schools, I highly suggest you approach the process in much the same way you would approach the search for a private school. Learn about the charter schools in your area and find out about their missions and how they approach education. Your goal is to find schools that fit with your educational philosophy and that will be a good fit for your child and your family.

A good place to start your research is by visiting the schools’ websites. Charter school directories are maintained by both San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego County Office of Education. Links to the online directories may be found at the end of this post.

Albert Einstein Charter School

The Application Process

While charter schools are public schools, each school defines and coordinates their own application process. For some schools the process simply involves completing an application. However, other schools may have additional requirements such as a school visit, attendance at an Open House, or meeting with an administrator. These requirements will vary by school.

Once you have decided on the school(s) to which you would like to apply, visit their web sites and carefully review the requirements for applying and enrolling. Pay particular attention to the dates that their applications will become available and the deadlines for returning the applications. Some schools provide a simple online form that you complete for application while others might require you to download, complete and then mail or fax the application form.

High Tech High Schools

What Are the Odds of Getting In?

Estimating the odds of getting in to a charter school depend upon many factors, not the least of which is the school’s reputation within the community and the resulting demand. While some schools have enough room to accommodate every student who wishes to attend, others are overwhelmed by applications, even by as many as 100 applications for every available seat. This phenomenon will continue to occur with greater frequency as charter schools become more popular with families looking for innovative educational choices.

If a charter school receives applications that exceed the number of available seats, the school might institute a lottery for student selection. Sometimes a student’s placement in the lottery will be determined by priorities. For example, a school may draw the first group of students based upon their home addresses and give priority to certain zip codes.

Often schools will institute waitlists for students who are not admitted during the lottery or who turn in their applications after the deadline has passed. If and when spaces do become available at some point in the future, schools can offer admission to students on the waitlist.

To find out more about the application process and the likelihood that you will (or will not) be able to enroll in the charter school of your choice, schedule a visit with the school and ask them about it. But remember, you will definitely NOT be admitted to a charter school if you don’t apply. After all, someone has to win the lottery.

If you are not admitted to the school of your choice, find out how to get on the waitlist. A lot of changes can take place over the summer – families move or new classes may be added. Charter schools often have spaces that become available at the beginning of the new school year and if you are on the waitlist, your child might be the one selected.

Links to More Info

Center for Education Reform, Charter School FAQs
http://www.edreform.com/Fast_Facts/Ed_Reform_FAQs/?Just_the_FAQs_Charter_Schools

US Charter Schools
http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/index.htm

San Diego Unified School District, Charter Schools
http://old.sandi.net/school/charter/index.html

San Diego County Office of Education, Charter Schools 2009-10
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/business2/dfs/charter/sdcoecharter.html

2 Responses to “San Diego Charter Schools”

1. Anonymous says:

   December 10, 2009 at 2:51 pm

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2. Tamara says:

   December 10, 2009 at 3:53 pm

   Thanks! I’m glad the information is helpful.