Opinions on Charter Schools?

My wife and I were talking last night and are looking into a local charter school that seems to be getting a lot of academic buzz.

https://www.basisschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127&Itemid=189

http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2012/...sh-basis-schools-to-top-of-national-rankings/


They offer advanced science and math classes, and are apparently ranked within the top 5 high schools in the country (it starts at 5th grade). My daughter Jenna is excited because they offer foreign languages every year, advanced science, and Kenpo in place of a lunch recess (she already does TKD). While this sounds too good to be true, it is also FREE to attend. Average ACTs are 30 and SATs are 1933 for the Tucson school which are WELL over national average.

I am asking folks about their thoughts on schools that are not part of the public school system. I know the public system isn't that great, but Jenna attends some fairly academic ones that tend to break the mold some. In addition, she is in GATE. She has a good friend who was in a private school until this year, and academically she is behind and they held her back a grade.

My fear is that something like that would happen to Jenna if she decided to go back to public school. Thoughts? Anyone familiar with these schools, especially BASIS?

 

Wish I could help with this but am out of the loop on this now a days although I did "experiment" when my older kid was having so many issues in public schools. I tried private schools back then, don't believe they had "Charter" schools then. Luckily where we live now has fantastic schools, as well as options discussed in your other thread we talked about. Good luck in your research, no doubt you'll make a good educated decision.

 

Around here, some of the poorest (ultra low test scores & attendance, history of violence, etc) performing public schools in the district were "sold" and turned into charter schools to hopefully "turn" the schools around. As far as I know, those schools are still some of the poorest, making little to no progress and it's been more than 3 years. Many charter schools also lied about enrollment (claiming to have more students) just to get more Fed. tax money, some have stolen that money, some claim to have no money and some where caught in their corruption. In my opinion, a charter school is no different than a public school (here).

Again, this is only what I've seen around here and I'm sure all charters aren't this way. Just thought I'd give you an idea of what it's like.

 

I went to a charter school for 3 years (edit: we just called it private school in those days). My dad pulled me out of public school after 5th grade because he didn't want me to get sex ed and then want to have sex. The school I went to was not recognized by the state of Washington where I lived, so when I got back into the public school system they set me back a grade because I was behind in some subjects and ahead in others. We were also taught our state history from books obtained from school book sales elsewhere, i.e. they were outdated to say the least.

I had friends in other private schools and they all had different experiences. Some schools are going to be better than public schools, others won't. I can tell you from my experience (I'm now 40 so it's been a few decades) to not take anything for granted. With public schools (for the most part) teachers and staff are background checked, this is not something to be assumed with private schools. The principal in our school was found to be of "questionable character" and likely would never have been hired into a public school system.

Do your homework, ask questions, if you suspect something look into it.

 

Argh. You guys are scaring me now. Even the Washington Post lists them as the #1 high school in the country:

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/

I dunno. We are still investigating.

 

On the standardized testing throughout my school years, I scored at or near the top of every one. Given this (and before the days of charter schools), my parents sent me to a local Jesuit high school. It had nothing to do with religion; it was based solely on the school's offering of Advanced Placement courses and excellent faculty.

Overall, I had very mixed feelings about it.

Many of the classes and teachers assumed (based on the standardized test scores) that students were already geniuses in a subject and started the curriculum at a very advanced level. In math and French, this turned out to be a disaster for me - in both cases, I ended up being dropped to their version of "special ed" (which was equal to standard level teaching in a regular public high school). On the bright side, I had better luck in English, writing, physics and other subjects that interested me more.

The moral is to thoroughly research the school by talking to other parents who have children enrolled there if possible. If you're still undecided, you can always try it for a year - if it doesn't work out, go back to a standard public school.

 

Yeah, I am worried about them being too advanced as well.

 

Yea, this is part of the problem here. Since they aren't under the thumb of the school district, they are free to do unorthodox things. I found a few here that entire families work (and are paid handsomely) for the school despite many of them not having any skills.


Adry, does the school have open house days? or can you observe a class? Maybe you could talk to some of the current students/parents/teachers? I know that would help me greatly if I were able to do that.

I understand your apprehensions, while I had a wonderful time in a public high school, schools have drastically changed. I'm sure in the end you will find the right fit for Jenna.

 

For a second, I thought I'd already replied. That's pretty much how it goes around here, too. We do have a few that are decent (National Heritage Academies leaps to mind), but you pay through the nose for them as they are not technically charter schools. As I understand it, charter schools are what take money away from the public schools as far as state and federal funding go, in an effort to create a better learning environment. For the most part, it seems to me what school districts do instead of actually making an effort to improve existing schools.

That said, I am completely unfamiliar with BASIS, so I can't actually offer an opinion on that particular school at all, sorry

 

Yeah they have an open house. We already pre-registered Jenna. The more I look at it, the more I think it is a good idea. It is right up there with University High School, which is a public school, but one of the top 10 schools in the country.

 

My wife teaches Grade 1 in one of the "poorer" schools here. which probably isn't as bad as the schools in the quote.She has kids show up dirty, no socks or jacket. Lack of attention at home. She say's, without fail the kids from stable, working homes far out perform the other kids. The main reason private schools turn out better grades is the clientel.
Will your daughter benefit much from a different venue Adrynalyne? And, is it something she really wants.

 

The curriculum and structure would benefit her. Jenna is a very structured learner, and it part of the reason she does so well in martial arts. This is the first year that she has close to an equivalent of straight As (school uses point system but there is no direct A comparison unlike college point systems). She does not work well with those who goof off and does not comprehend why other children do not accept authority as law. Seriously, she has never had disciplinary actions at school, never been accused of talking during class. The last time I gave this girl a spanking was when she was 4. Her idea of extreme punishment is if I have to raise my voice. She has even asked her teachers to move to different tables where the kids don't talk because it distracts her. I am not a harsh father at all. She just does not question authority at any time. She does what she is told, each and every time, whether it is a teacher, martial arts instructor, or family member.

I asked her today if she felt that her school was hard. Her response was:

"No, unless learning something new, and then its easy and I learn it really fast."

I also asked her if she felt that school could teach her more and she said yes.

She isn't in a bad school compared to most. In fact her elementary school is 20-30% above the state average. Of course the average is quite poor.

http://www.greatschools.org/modperl/achievement/az/1811

Jenna really wants to learn foreign languages (Korean being a top priority), especially with her mom being Korean. Of course, she doesn't speak her native language. She is very inquisitive about science and she is quite good in math. This place would feed her brain like no other.

She also isn't exactly a social butterfly. She is stunningly beautiful and boys all adore her. However, aside from a couple friends she has, the girls are mean to her (probably jealousy). I just found out she was volunteering in the cafeteria because she didn't want to be alone during lunch recess. So this place offering something like martial arts in place of recess would benefit her as well.

My main fear after looking into it further is how it will affect her emotionally. I want her to be a kid, and not forced to be an adult from 10 on like I was. This school is tough...it looks like they have a 35 percent retention rate due to kids not being able to handle it. At the same time, it opens her up to scholarships, grants, and a large choice of colleges if she keeps with it and excels.

 

Thanks Laura.

We still have some interviews to do and an open house to attend before open enrollment next month. I really hope there is a spot for her (otherwise it becomes a lottery).