Parents today have various options for their kids’ education, unlike before when they were limited to local neighborhood schools or private schools (which were also often costly). You can choose to take your kids to a charter school, vocational school, online school, private school, local public school, or homeschooling. However, with all these options, many parents are opting for charter schools for many reasons, such as flexibility, less bureaucracy, and relatively better academic standards & opportunities. This has seen charter schools like the  Newark Charter School receive more applications than openings leaving hundreds of students on waiting lists. You can click this link to check out a reputable alternative to Newark charter schools located in New Jersey. 

Why Newark Charter School Uses Lottery for Admissions 

When a charter school receives more applications than its current available openings, a naturally occurring school lottery is used to decide who gets the opportunity and which students will be placed on a waiting list. In Delaware, this process is guided by the Delaware Charter School Law, which lays out the rules to be observed during a lottery that is open to the public. Some of the preferences allowed to charter schools by this law include admissions of students with siblings currently enrolled, students attending a public school converted to a charter school status, children of school founders, and children who live within a 5-mile radius of the school. 

Newark Charter School follows the same rules during its lottery process. However, it’s good to note that they currently have over 3,000 students on their waiting list, making it potentially hard to secure a slot for your child. Their chances dwindle further if they don’t meet the criteria listed above as stipulated by the Delaware Charter School Law. All Newark Charter School waiting list students have to re-apply again in the coming year as waiting lists don’t roll over to the following year. 

Is a Charter School Right for Your Child?

Every parent wishes to enroll their child in a school with a good curriculum, relevant special programs, and teaching methods to bring out the best in them. If you have doubts about the school within your community, you can always weigh your options. The good thing is that there are many school categories with great opportunities. Charter schools have become a popular category in recent times, and their popularity continues to soar. So, why should you choose a charter school for your child’s education? Here are the top reasons you should go ahead with your consideration. 

  • They are an Affordable Alternative 

Although some charter schools may charge fees on some activities and programs, they are tuition-free, thanks to funding from public sources. This means your kids get access to the same quality education you’d pay for heavily in specialized institutions without worrying about the cost. Charter schools are affordable for parents with several kids and are partly the primary reason driving many families to prefer them to private schools. 

  • Their Students are from Diverse Backgrounds 

Most charter schools are more open to diversity, in stark contrast to many neighborhood public schools that often reflect the population around the area. This is partly because charter schools are not bound by location and are open to students from all walks of life. Having your kids learn amid diversity is a great way to prepare them to work with no issues in a pluralistic society. 

  • They are Designed for your Child’s Unique Needs 

Charter schools are often designed to offer specialized education, not easily found in most public schools. They often provide information about their specialty areas, such as math & science, arts, technology, etc., on their websites to aid parents in choosing the right school for their children’s needs and interests. 

  • Their Classes are Smaller 

Charter schools put a cap on the number of maximum students they can handle for an optimal learning process. This means their classes are smaller than traditional public schools, allowing teachers to focus more exclusively on individual students. This puts teachers in a position to effectively assess and understand their students’ specific needs and weaknesses. 

  • They Encourage Parents’ Participation 

Charter schools believe that parents are integral in the effective learning process of their children and have come up with ways to involve them. They encourage parents to co-partner with the teachers and the school by offering follow-up and guidance to their kids. 

  • They have a Different Approach to Discipline 

Charter schools often have very effective results when dealing with students with discipline issues, given their more intimate setting. Their setting enables individual attention to students, making it easier to identify and correct underlying problems in such students by helping them understand themselves better.