You might have read this from the fail thread BUT:
I was planning on sending my kids to our local public school. All the schools in the city are good. But then I ran into the issue of them not offering after school programs. They leave it up to the parents to find places that will pick up and watch your kids.
On average the costs are about $450 a month for after school care.
I happen to then learn about a charter school in the area that is a STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) school that has after school care for $375 (will be $300 if/when both kids are there).
Pros:
School has every kid purchase a chromebook and do a lot with them
They can learn Spanish, Mandarin, or Hebrew
It is project-based which is really really really good for creating critical thinkers who are independent learners.
smaller class sizes
academically, it will probably be way better than what they would get at a public school
schedule is a lot closer to mine than the public school (e.g. same spring break)
cons:
It means they won't go to school with their neighbors
uniforms (such a small thing but God to I hate the look of polo shirts. If I wouldn't put it on a dead dog, why should I put it on my kids?)
has some severe backlash from the community (see below)
small schools tend to have less extra curricular activities
requires a lot more "volunteering" from parents vs. other schools
General distrust of charter schools as I work at a charter school
Feeling like a damn hypocrite as I wish funding would stop being taken away from public schools for charter schools
Another consideration is the high school situation:
So the school has a 7-12 in a separate location. This school is ranked higher than any of the other high schools in the area. Going to the elementary increases the changes to get to the high school, but not guaranteed. I have read about upset parents who had their kid go k-6 at the other school then get denied to the 7-12. The reason is not the charter's fault but the way the district sets up the lottery system. Meaning the kids may not get to go to high school with their friends.
With all that said, while the academics that they offer are better, it is a small HS, so options are more limited compared to the public high school (no dance, film, etc. if they end up being interested in that stuff). I think the elementary would prepare them more for honors classes, however.
More importantly, the high school may not even exist by then. The community flat out hates that these charters are here. The board recently voted to not renew the high school due to mismanagement of funds (which I guess was corrected, but they denied the renewal anyway), because the school board doesn't want it. At all. They are in an appeal process, but I don't know if it will work.
If they get denied, there is reason to believe they may try to shut down the elementary, too.
What would you do? Or is there something that should be brought up but I didn't mention?
Sorry, I know this is rambling, but I got the acceptance letter today, but I have to give them my intent to enroll by Thursday.
I want what's best for my kids. ;_;