What Are Charter Schools & Their Benefits?

We believe students learn best in an environment tailored to their needs. There are multiple paths to a bright future. Understanding the options and choosing the best fit for an individual child is key to unlocking their potential.

Charter high schools like Northpoint offer a public school education with a distinctive mission, giving students more options and opportunities in their learning experience.

What is a charter school?

People often mistake charter schools for private schools. In fact, they are public schools that are funded by the local government just like any other traditional public school. Unlike other public schools, they operate under a “charter,” or set of guiding principles, enforced by a governance council. The charter allows the school to be flexible and innovative with teaching methods while still meeting state education standards.

Charters have been around since the 1970s, but official legislation was passed in the 1990s that allowed this type of education to flourish. Now, parents find school choice more important than ever, and public charters provide a tuition-free path to a personalized education.

How do charter schools work?

While both charter schools and traditional public schools receive public funding, charter schools operate independently from school district rules. Each charter school has the freedom to develop its own teaching methods and programs, as long as it meets state standards for academic performance.

This flexibility allows charter schools to serve their communities in ways that address specific needs or offer specialized education options. For example, Northpoint Charter offers a blend of in-person and online classes that allow students to work in a self-directed environment with plenty of academic support.

Smaller class sizes, hands-on learning opportunities, and innovative curriculum options are a few other reasons why some students and their parents are drawn to charter schools.

Are charter schools free?

Like public schools, charter schools are tuition-free and open to all students. Because there are a limited number of slots available, applications are accepted through a raffle system to ensure fairness.

If you’re interested in Albuquerque charter schools, we invite you to visit Northpoint and see the difference for yourself. Reach out today to schedule a tour, or read more about our application process to get started.