Charter Schools vs. Public Schools

Did you know that charter schools are actually public schools? Traditional public schools and charter schools have some major differences, but both are more bound to state laws and regulations than private schools. So what exactly are the differences between the two?

In a Nutshell

Charter schools are public schools that are independent of school districts through contracts with state or local boards.

The basic concept of charter schools is that they exercise increased autonomy in return for greater accountability. As public schools, charter schools are open to all children, do not require entrance exams, cannot charge tuition, and must participate in state testing and federal accountability programs. The schools draw up their own “charter” which is a set of rules and performance standards that they are held accountable to.

Related: What is a Charter School?

Traditional public schools are tied to school districts and set their curriculums based on state education standards.

Traditional public schools must adhere to education standards set by the state education board and are not exempt from any state, federal, or local laws regarding education. They are governed by the school district, which is run by a democratically-elected school board.

Comparing Charter Schools and Traditional Public Schools

How they’re the same: Charter schools and traditional public schools are both free,  cannot discriminate against students they admit to their schools, and receive state funding.

How they’re different: Charter schools receive state funding on a fixed, per-pupil basis, while traditional public schools receive more funding more heavily in the form of local taxpayer dollars. Both types of schools directly compete for state funding.

In terms of accountability, state schools adhere directly to standards set by the state board of education, but charter schools are bound to their charter, which is drawn up by a group (could be a for-profit organization, a group of teachers, parents, the local school district, or government entities). Theoretically, a charter school can be shut down if it does not meet the standards outlined in its charter.

Controversy and Criticism of Charter Schools

Since charter schools are a relatively new phenomenon, there are still some bumps in the road in terms of guaranteeing their success rates. Issues with accountability and funding have contributed to high failure rates among charter schools.

About 24% of charter schools close due to mismanagement, which is the 2nd largest reason for closure besides funding issues. Since charter schools and public schools directly compete for public funding, some argue that the existence of charter school undermines the public education system. Additionally, since charter schools can be run by for-profit organizations, some criticise for-profit charter schools as turning education into a business opportunity.

More: Read about charter school performance in What is a Charter School?

Basic Statistics

As of 2016-2017, there were an estimated 6,900 public charter schools in 42 states and the District of Columbia with approximately 3.1 million students.

Source:National Alliance for Public Charters, National Center for Education Statistics

Want to learn more about charter school statistics? With so much misinformation about charter schools in the media, we thought we’d share just the facts: what charter schools are, where they are, who goes to them, and how they’re performing.

Continue Your Research

• What is a Charter School?
• Best Charter High Schools in America
• Just the Facts: Charter School Statistics
• Charter Schools vs. Private Schools
• How We Became a Charter School Family