Should Your Child Go To A Charter School?

As of 2017, there are approximately 7,000 charter schools, making up seven percent of all public schools in the United States. Here’s a look into why they are so popular: 

Background 

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are independent of local school districts and are overseen by organizations under a charter. Charters detail how the school is going to be organized and managed, what students are expected to do, and how the school plans on measuring students’ success rates. Charter schools are regularly reviewed to make sure they are meeting all standards defined in their charter. If they do not meet their guidelines, curriculums, or accountability standards, the school runs the risk of being shut down. 

As public schools, they do not charge tuition, are open to everyone, and do not require entrance exams. Because they are independent of local school boards, they are not obligated to follow the state’s curriculum. They are allowed to develop their own curriculum and adjust it however they see fit as their student body’s needs change. However, they must still adhere to the same student assessment requirements as other public schools. This means all students in charter schools in NYC must take state tests and regents exams like other regular public school students. 

Pros

Charter schools are a hub of innovation and experimental learning. So, if your student is having trouble at a regular school, the teaching style of your local charter school may be more beneficial. For example, a hyperactive student at a regular public school may face harsh consequences for not being able to sit quietly at a desk and may become discouraged, but this student would be more encouraged at a charter school where they can focus their energy on a more hands-on learning environment. These schools also tend to have smaller class sizes, allowing students to have more one-on-one attention to improve their academic performance. 

Unlike regular public schools, charter schools do not follow the Common Core curriculum. Regular public schools cannot change their curriculum to fit every students’ needs. However, if a student is having trouble with the material at a charter school, the flexibility of a charter school’s curriculum allows the teacher to change the curriculum to fit their needs. They can approach the curriculum in a different way, like project-based or outdoor learning. As a result of their flexible curriculum, charter schools can specialize in various themes and curricula like the STEM field, college prep, or languages. For example, in NYC, the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School immerses students in the Modern Hebrew language. 

In NYC, students in charter schools outperform students in regular public schools with similar student bodies. Charter school students pass academic tests at higher rates than other students. Charter schools have 63.2% and 57.3% overall student proficiency in math and ELA respectively compared to 46.7% and 45.4% statewide. Charter schools also demonstrate higher attendance rates and higher ratings on satisfaction surveys. 

Cons

Corruption is not uncommon in the charter school system. For-profit charter schools often take advantage of their funding and use children’s educations as a business opportunity. Twenty-four percent of charter schools close due to mismanagement. Charter schools also tend to have issues with funding. In fact, most charter schools close due to funding issues. In NYC alone, there have been twenty schools that have closed so far. 

Teachers at charter schools are not required to have teacher certifications. This could potentially lead to ill-prepared teachers who are unable to help your child improve and grow. The curriculum that your local charter school follows may also not be helpful to your child. If you are considering putting your child in a charter school, make sure to look into their student performance and statistics and speak to other parents before applying. 

How to Apply 

If you are considering putting your child into a charter school, you should first attend the open schools of any charter school you are considering. Here is a calendar of all upcoming charter school open houses in New York City. 

Admission to public charter schools is lottery-based, giving all applicants an equal chance to get in. If there are more students than there are seats then students are chosen randomly and students who do not get in are put on a waitlist. However, there are some enrollment preferences like returning students, siblings of students already enrolled, and students living in the school district. Students who fit these categories are given preference and have a better chance of getting in. Based on the school’s charter and its goal, students with disabilities, English language learners, or students with free or reduced lunch may also be given preference. 

There are three methods to apply to charter schools: the Common Online Charter School Application, the school’s website, or in person. Through the Common Online Charter School Application, you can apply to multiple schools. However, not all schools use this application form. If this is the case, you can visit the school’s website directly and apply through there. You may also pick up an application at the school or call the school and ask them to mail you an application. All applications are due by April 1st, 2020. If you submit the application late, your child will be put at the bottom of the waitlist. 

Charter schools are a great alternative to regular public schools, especially if your child is having trouble with the Common Core curriculum. It is important to do research into potential schools and choose the best fit for your child based on their curriculum, charter, and reviews. Synergy Prep offers tutoring services for State Assessments and Regents exams that students must take at the end of the year. 

Why Does the Common Core Exist?

What is Common Core?

The Common Core is not a curriculum. It is a guideline of what children in each grade should know by the end of the school year. They are shared goals and expectations among educational institutions using the Common Core that set grounds for knowledge and skills that will help students succeed. Unlike its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act, it focuses on developing a child’s critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving. These skills are meant to ensure that students can succeed later in life no matter what they plan on doing. 

The Common Core puts a greater emphasis on math. Rather than race over numerous topics, the Common Core aims to focus on fewer concepts in detail. Academic success does not come from learning hard topics at a young age, but rather from having a deep and authentic understanding of the material. When following the Common Core, students strengthen foundations, understandings of fundamental topics, and procedural skills so that they feel confident in using the concepts both inside and outside of the classroom. Each grade focuses on a few math concepts in detail for the entirety of the school year. For example, third graders focus on multiplication, division, and fractions. You can find the math standards for each grade here. Each year, the math is meant to build on itself. For example, after learning the basics of fractions in the third grade, students go on to learn how to add and subtract fractions in the fourth grade. This method reinforces major math topics and builds students understanding of topics gradually. 

Along with building reading and writing skills, the Common Core aims to build the complexity of the texts the students can read so that they can understand any text they encounter in the future. To achieve this skill, the Common Core focuses on building vocabulary as the years go on. Not only do the students learn new words, but they also learn the nuances of words and learn to use context clues. Teachers using the Common Core are also expected to expose their students to multiple different genres, with each grade focusing heavily on one. For example, sixth-grade students are expected to focus mostly on myths. This is done to build students’ familiarity with different types of texts. About fifty percent of students’ readings are informational and are surrounding subjects like history and science, allowing the children to develop strong general knowledge. Unlike before, students are now focused more on text-based writing rather than narrative writing. This change is meant to hone the analytical skills they will need in college, career, and life. 

Who Was Is It Implemented By?

The Common Core was created in 2009 to tackle the stagnation of the United States’ academic progress and regain its international status of academic rigor. This was caused by states having different levels and standards they teach. No states agreed on what a student should know by the end of a grade. In order to fix this, state leaders and educators came together to create the Common Core using the most effective standards from across the country and the world. So far, 41 states, multiple territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the Common Core. You can check if your state or territory uses the Common Core program here. Because it was not made by the federal government, states decide if they want to use the program or not. Each state is also allowed to change the program so it fits the needs of their students. Schools also have flexibility with how they choose to teach the lessons. 

What Is the Future of the Common Core?

The Common Core focuses on students’ understandings of the concept rather than how many concepts they know. This has shown positive results and has led to the Common Core being picked up by more and more states. It is flexible and constantly evolving to fit the needs of the students. As students grow older and end school, we will be able to fully see the effects of the Common Core. 

If your student is having trouble at school, Synergy Prep offers Common Core tutoring services for grades 2-8. Click here for the Common Core program brochure.

Specialized High Schools vs Regular Public High Schools

High school is the next big step in your academic career. Choosing where you’ll spend the next four years of your life is a hard decision. One thing that you should consider when choosing high schools is whether you want to go to a Specialized High School or a regular public high school.  You can find out more about which schools would be the best fit for you by clicking here. Specialized High Schools, unlike other public high schools,  can provide their students with a strong education through their ample funding and strong alumni network. The only admission requirement for eight of these high schools is the SHSAT test. Unlike the other specialized high schools, Laguardia High School requires an audition or portfolio for admission. Without further ado, here are the main differences between Specialized High Schools and regular public schools: 

AP Classes:

Advanced Placement Courses are introductory college-level courses you can take in high school. After taking an AP course, you can take the AP test in May. Based on this score, you may receive college credit for the course. This can help you get a headstart in college. Specialized High Schools tend to offer more AP classes than regular high schools. Most also require you to take at least one before you graduate and replace regular courses with AP courses. Many, like Stuyvesant High School, also teach their basic courses at the AP level, making you prepared to take the AP test by the end of the course. Look into what AP courses are offered at any school that you are interested in. 

Electives:

Electives are classes focused on one field or subfield of a subject (i.e. Neurobiology or Multivariable Calculus). Taking these electives can further your knowledge in a field you are interested in, giving you a headstart. It can also differentiate you from other applicants when you are applying to college. Taking difficult courses (college-level electives) and electives in a field you may want to major in will strengthen your college application when the time comes. Because they get more funding, Specialized High Schools offer countless electives. Generally, you can find a list of electives that the school offers on their website. 

Curriculum:

You can also look into schools whose curriculum is specialized in one field. For example, the Bronx Academy for Software Engineering’s curriculum focuses on software engineering and computer science. Multiple schools, like Brooklyn Tech, has a major system. Major systems allow you to choose from a variety of different majors or paths and take courses related to that major. For example, students at Brooklyn Tech in the Architecture major may take courses related to drafting and AutoCAD. You should also consider choosing between STEM and the liberal arts. Schools like Bronx Science specialize in the STEM fields, while schools like Brooklyn Latin specialize in the humanities.

College Preparation:

The ultimate goal of high school is to get into your ideal college. You’ll want to go to a high school that prepares you well for what’s ahead. Make sure the high schools you’re going to have a designated college office that works to help you get into your choice of college. These offices will provide you with resources, like help with college applications and organizing college trips. You should also consider going to a school with a good reputation. Specialized High Schools have a good reputation among top colleges for providing good students. This makes colleges more likely to accept students from Specialized High Schools. The rigorous curriculum at Specialized High Schools makes you prepared for the difficulty of college. Students who have graduated from Specialized High Schools and moved onto college have noted that college is easier than high school.

Clubs/Teams: 

Extracurricular activities are activities you do outside of the classroom, including clubs, teams, and student governments. Participating in them will strengthen your college application. Based on your extracurriculars, colleges can have a holistic understanding of who you are as a person and your goals. Extracurriculars can also help you get involved in activities that strengthen your knowledge in your academic and career interests. Schools with more funding have more extracurriculars because they can spread money to support their clubs and teams. 

Competitiveness: 

The social environment of your school can heavily influence your grades and achievements in high school. You will want to consider what type of environment works best for you. Do you thrive in a competitive environment or do you prefer less pressure?  You may also want to consider the fact that while you may be at the top of your middle school, going to a specialized high school, like Stuyvesant will most likely mean you are no longer at the top. This is known as the small fish in a big pond effect. The opposite effect is known as the big fish in a small pond. If you go to a smaller school, you are more likely to stand out and be at the top. Factors that you should look into when determining the competitiveness of a school are the class sizes, number of students per grade, graduation rate, and the percent of students that take college-level courses. However, you should think about who you want to be surrounded with. Even if you are no longer the top student, you will be surrounded by people who are as driven as you, pushing you to work harder. 

The Best Non-Specialized Public High Schools

The best non-specialized public high schools tend to be screened. Screened schools are schools that look at your grades, attendance, and test scores from 7th grade to determine your admission. Some also require you to complete an interview or hand in a portfolio. Here’s a list of some of the best public schools in the city: 

• Bard High School Early College: Bard is a unique high school that allows you to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree. Their curriculum allows you to finish two years of college by the time you graduate from high school. There are two campuses: Manhattan and Queens. Bard requires applicants to take an entrance exam and to complete an interview. 

• Beacon High School: Beacon’s curriculum focuses on college preparatory. It offers countless AP and Honors level courses, while also boasting hundreds of different clubs and teams. Unlike most schools, Beacon requires students to complete Performance-Based Assessments/Projects to pass the course. Beacon requires applicants to complete an interview and submit a portfolio of their work. 

• Townsend Harris High School: Townsend Harris’ curriculum focuses on the liberal arts. However, they still have a strong STEM program. All courses at Townsend Harris are Honors level. They also offer a Senior Bridge Year at Queens College, allowing students to complete 12 college credits. Townsend Harris requires that all applicants must have a 90% average or higher. 

• New Explorations Into Science, Technology + Math: Since their opening in 2001, NEST+m has had 100% of their graduates move on to college. Their curriculum is STEM-based and students are required to complete 60 hours of community service by the time they graduate. NEST+m also has a partnership with the College Now program at Hunter College, allowing their students to take college courses while in high school. 

Deciding where you’ll go to high school is a difficult task. Make sure to take every factor into account when making your list. If you still need some help deciding where to go, you can find more information that can help you here or come in for consulting at Synergy Prep. At the end of the day, remember that even if you don’t get into your top choice, it’s not about what high school you go to, but rather how well you perform at your schools and how well you use the resources that have been provided to you.