Essay on Different Types of Schools in the United States

The USA is a country in North America with a population of 326 million where English is the main language. 87.3 % of people who are aged 25 and above have a high school education or higher. Depending on the state, school is mandatory for children from ages 16-18 (www.census.gov). Have you ever wondered, how many different types of schools there are in the USA? There is a wide range of options out there that makes picking a school best suited to the needs of your child so much easier. In the United States, there are around 10 different types of schools that can be categorized into either a private or public school based on their fundings. 

Public schools get their funding from the government, and students do not have to pay tuition. Public schools include traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, and public online schools. Source:https://www2.madisonschools.k12.va.us/ 

Among public schools, traditional public schools are the most common, and students attend a public school based on where they live. The local and state government decide the rules of policy, curriculum, governance that the schools must adhere to. Charter schools are also free, but unlike traditional public schools, they are autonomous and do not have to follow the same rules as them. Any individual or organization can start a charter school and get public school funding, however that can be taken away if they fail to meet performance expectations.  Magnet schools are like public schools but specialize in a certain area such as technology, science, or art and like charter schools, have limited spaces. Public online schools have the same teacher, academic and management standards as traditional public schools. The key benefits include opportunities for students to study at their own pace, from the comfort of their home, and learning plans can be customized based on each student’s needs. Such schools are successful due to great communication between teachers, families, and students where questions get answered within 24 hours during the week (www.rasmussen.edu).

Private schools include traditional private schools, boarding schools, Montessori schools, language immersion schools, religious schools, and Waldorf schools. Source:http://www.tlccyprus.com/about/school-transport/

The primary source of funding for traditional private schools come from tuition fees from its students, instead of the government, hence private schools do not have to follow the national curriculum, but design their own. The class sizes are usually smaller which is often viewed as a great benefit to many parents. Boarding schools are another type of private school but they are not that common, and represent a relatively small percentage of the schools in the US and provide a unique way of teaching by providing both housing and education, with great emphasis on academics and extracurricular activities. Montessori schools focus on the development of each child’s interest and individuality through a great emphasis on exploration, imagination, real-life experiences and participation. Language immersion schools help children develop fluency in another language other than English. A religious school has a religious component in its education curriculum, so children get well educated on both academics and their religion. Waldorf schools were founded by Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist, and philosopher, and they aim to promote children’s lifelong learning through a child’s imagination and fantasy. (Education Media Centre). 

Many people do not know that there are so many choices of schools out there, which allows them to choose the one that best meets the needs of their child. People considering public schools have the option of traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, and online schools to choose from. People considering private school have traditional private schools, boarding schools, Montessori schools, language immersion schools, religious schools, and Waldorf schools to look into. Children can derive great benefits from education if placed into the school that works best for them.

Works Cited

Bernstein, Robby. “10 Best Types of Schools and Education Systems in the US.” Education, 1 Aug. 2018, education.media/10-best-types-of-schools-and-education-systems-in-the-us.

“Choosing a School: Types of Schools.” Reading Rockets, 7 Nov. 2013, www.readingrockets.org/article/choosing-school-types-schools.

“Madison County Public Schools / Homepage.” Madison County Public Schools / Homepage, www2.madisonschools.k12.va.us/.

“School Transport.” TLC Private School, www.tlccyprus.com/about/school-transport/.

“U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: UNITED STATES.” Census Bureau QuickFacts, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045217.

“The Ultimate Guide to 13 Different Types of Schools Across America.” The Ultimate Guide to 13 Different Types of Schools Across America | Rasmussen College, www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/types-of-schools/.