Public School Choice  

School choice in today’s world is not limited to choosing between the public school in the attendance zone where you live and private or homeschooling. Parents have a growing array of options within the public schools from which to find the school that will best meet the needs of their children.

Why should you choose your child’s school? 

Parents, guardians, and caregivers care deeply about their children and want to see them succeed in school and in life. Because parents are in the best position to know each child’s unique interests, personality, strengths, and challenges, they can best determine which type of school will complement those qualities and be best equipped to help their child achieve his or her goals. 

How are public schools different from private (including parochial) or homeschools? 

Public schools are funded through a combination of local, state, and federal dollars; students attend free of charge. School districts are required to serve all students within their jurisdiction; students are generally required to attend the school in the attendance zone where they reside. 

What are my options within the Public School Sector? 

Traditional Neighborhood schools-Neighborhood schools serve families who live within the borders of their attendance zones. Students and their families live near one another and can serve to support a sense of community. Your neighborhood public school is required to serve your family without regard to the number of children, economic status, special needs, or language barriers. Neighborhood schools are normally close to home and transportation is provided for students beyond walking distance. Check your local school district website to determine which school attendance zone you reside in.

Intradistrict open enrollment-When district policies allow, and space is available, students in some South Carolina districts may be able to attend a school in their district that is not their zoned school. In such cases, families are usually responsible for providing transportation. To see if this type of choice is available where you live, visit your school district’s website. More information is available here.

Magnet schools-Magnet schools/programs are public schools that offer a specialized curriculum, not available elsewhere. Magnet schools/programs are designed to attract students from diverse socio-economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds reflective of the population within a school district. Some magnet schools require students to take an exam or demonstrate knowledge or skill in the specialty to qualify to go to the school, while others are open to students who express an interest in that area. Check your local school district website for information about magnet school opportunities in your area.  

Charter schools-Charter schools are public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the local and state regulations that apply to traditional public schools. Charter schools allow parents, community leaders, educational entrepreneurs, and others the flexibility to innovate, create, and provide students with increased educational opportunities. They are sponsored by designated local, state, or other organizations that monitor their quality and integrity while holding them accountable for academic results and fiscal practices.    

In South Carolina, some charter schools are part of established public school districts. There are also two statewide charter school authorizers that sponsor charter schools: the SC Statewide Public Charter School District (SC SPCSD) and the Charter Institute at Erskine College. For additional information about charter schools in South Carolina, visit here.    

Virtual schools-Virtual schools allow students to receive their education using a computer instead of taking classes in a school building. Depending on the state and district, students can take the full curriculum or individual classes, which may help students learn at their own pace. Virtual education is sometimes used in remote areas for specialized or advanced courses that are not available in the immediate area. In South Carolina, the public SC Virtual Charter School is open to all families residing full-time in South Carolina with children in grades K-12. In addition, the state sponsored VirtualSC program provides students in grades 7-12 who currently attend public, private, or home schools with access to free online courses.  

South Carolina’s Governor's schools-Governor's schools are state-funded public, residential high schools that provide an immersive learning experience for high school-aged students. There are admission requirements, and they are highly competitive. These schools are like colleges in that students’ programs are individualized and juniors and seniors live on campus. There is a commitment to provide opportunities to diverse populations from across the state to attend these schools. For more information on these schools, visit their websites: SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. 

Additional Resources 

South Carolina Department of Education School Choice website 

U.S. Department of Education resources for parents 

Children’s Trust of South Carolina South Carolina Parents 

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