Most American children attend a free public school assigned by where they live, but you have more choices than you might think. Here is what each option means, what it costs, and how children get a place, in plain English.
Funded by local, state and federal taxes and run by your local school district. This is where the large majority of US children go.
Getting in: Usually assigned by your home address through an attendance zone. No application for your zoned school.
Publicly funded but run independently, often with a particular focus or teaching approach. Quality varies, so check results.
Getting in: Open to all. If there are more applicants than places, spots are given by a random lottery.
A public school built around a theme such as STEM, the arts or International Baccalaureate, often drawing students from across a district.
Getting in: By application, and sometimes by test, audition or lottery. Can be selective.
Not government funded. Sets its own curriculum, class sizes and admissions. Ranges from large prep schools to small independents.
Getting in: Own admissions process: applications, tours, interviews and often an entrance test (ISEE or SSAT). Deadlines usually fall the year before entry.
Run by a religious organization, such as a Catholic diocese, combining academics with faith-based education.
Getting in: Application to the school or diocese. Some use a placement test such as the HSPT for high school.
Parent-led education at home, supported by curricula, co-ops and online programs. Legal in every state.
Getting in: You register or notify according to your state rules, which vary a lot. Check your state department of education.
Full-time schooling from home, delivered online. Some are public or charter (free); others are private. Useful for flexibility, health or travel.
Getting in: Enrollment through the virtual school or your district. Public virtual options are often free to state residents.
Attendance zones. Your home address usually decides your assigned public school. Districts publish zone maps, and the school you are zoned for is guaranteed a place for your child.
Open enrollment. Many states and districts let you apply to a public school outside your zone if it has room. Rules and deadlines vary, so check your district early.
Lotteries. When a charter or magnet school has more applicants than places, a random lottery decides who gets in. It is worth applying to more than one.
Private admissions. Private and parochial schools run their own process, with applications, visits, interviews and sometimes an entrance test. Deadlines often fall in the autumn or winter of the year before your child would start.
Under a federal law called IDEA, public schools must provide a free, appropriate education to children with disabilities. Two things are worth knowing by name:
A legal plan of specialist support and goals for a child whose disability affects their learning, reviewed with you each year.
Accommodations that remove barriers, such as extra time or seating, for a child who does not need a full IEP but still needs support.
If you think your child may need support, you can request an evaluation from your school in writing. We can help you understand the system and prepare, but we do not diagnose. For advice on your rights, contact your school's special education coordinator and your state's Parent Training and Information Center (find it through the federal Center for Parent Information and Resources).
Compare official data and reviews before you choose or move. Our US resources page points you to GreatSchools, the federal NCES school search and more.
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