Massachusetts offers options beyond your neighborhood school including charter

More on GreatSchools.net What You Should Know About School Transfers in Massachusetts Charter Schools Offer an Array of Choices Private vs. Public Schools: What’s the Difference? Homeschooling: Key Facts and Resources Enrolling in Kindergarten Related Links School Choice from the Massachusetts Department of Education Massachusetts Home Learning Association

schools, magnet schools and private schools. You’ll have access to a number of charter schools, especially if you live in a metropolitan area. Many school districts allow interdistrict transfers, so your child may also be able to attend a school in another district that more closely matches her interests.

Your Neighborhood School

Your neighborhood school is your first option to consider. The school your district assigns your child is generally determined by where you live. Your neighborhood school offers the advantage of proximity to your home, and a community of parents and students who live near the school. You'll want to evaluate the school to make sure its academic program, size and quality of education meet your child's needs before choosing this option.

School Transfer

There are two types of school transfer options: intradistrict and interdistrict. Intradistrict choice allows your child to attend any other school in his home district. Intradistrict choice is voluntary in Massachusetts, meaning each district decides whether its students may transfer to other schools within the district. Check with your district to learn about its policies.

Interdistrict choice allows your child to attend school in another district. Like intradistrict choice, interdistrict choice is voluntary in Massachusetts, meaning a district can choose whether or not it will receive students from other districts. If a district accepts students from other districts, it must do so in a nondiscriminatory manner. If there are more applicants than available places for those applicants, the places must be allocated by a random process.

Charter Schools

Massachusetts has a considerable number of charter schools. The charter application process is one of the most rigorous in the country, so it is more difficult for prospective charters to gain approval. Charter schools' progress in student achievement has been more mixed, and you'll want to look at how charters on your list stack up by looking them up on the Massachusetts Research & Compare page on GreatSchools.net.

Magnet Schools

Magnet schools draw students from a wider geographic area with a specially focused curriculum. They may exist as separate schools, or a public school may have a magnet program within the school. The program may emphasize any of a number of fields, from business to science or art. Although magnet schools are public schools, they often do not have room to accept all applicants. If there are more applicants than available spaces, spaces are allocated either selectively or randomly, depending on the district. Contact your district to explore your magnet school options.

Private Schools

Public school districts provide some services to students of private schools. They provide transportation to school within certain limits. Districts must provide services such as instruction to home-bound students (students who must stay at home due to injury or illness, for example) and instruction to students that speak limited English. The district may place disabled students in a private school at no cost to the parents if it will better meet the child’s needs.

Families of students pay tuition or, in some cases, students receive scholarships to attend private schools. The teachers, principal, board of directors and sometimes parents and students decide upon the curriculum, teaching methodology and enrollment requirements.

Massachusetts law requires the quality of instruction in a private school to equal the quality of instruction in a public school. All subjects required by law to be taught in public schools must be taught in private schools.

Homeschooling

Massachusetts home school law is the same as the law that applies to private schools. The home school must teach the same subjects that public schools are required to teach, and match the quality of instruction of public schools in thoroughness, efficiency and progress of the child.

Districts have the ability to regulate homeschooling more strictly in Massachusetts than in many other states. School officials may inquire into the credentials of the parents. Certification is not required, but parents must be deemed competent to teach their children. Officials may also examine the books and educational materials to be used in the child’s education to ensure they will teach the required material. Homeschool students may be required to take some form of evaluation to measure their progress.

Updated October 2006