Are you a student in Tucson, Arizona searching for various school options?
Choosing the most suitable school is no walk in the park. It’s a daunting task especially since parents have different choices. They can opt to enroll their child in neighborhood schools, alternative schools, magnet schools, private schools, and charter public schools.
The main objective of this article is to guide you in making a well-informed decision when it comes to your education. And if you’re wondering if public, charter school in Tucson, Arizona is the right choice, then keep reading on. This post will answer questions such as “How does a charter school work?” “How do I apply and enroll my child in a charter school in Tucson, Arizona?” And “What tuition-free charter schools in Tucson, Arizona are available?”
What is a Tuition-Free Public Charter School in Arizona?
Charter schools in Arizona first opened in the year 1994 after a special legislative session. They were created to provide educators with more leeway in educating students to ensure that schools would become incubators for innovation and reform.
Arizona charter schools are independent public schools that are sponsored and approved by either the state board for charter schools, the state board of education, a community college, a university under the umbrella of the Arizona board of regents, or a group of community college districts. Any person, private entity, or organization may apply for the opening of a charter school.
Charter schools in Arizona may have different approaches towards education but all are required to follow the state’s standards and assessments. They are usually privately managed and are exempted from some of the laws and rules that traditional public schools must adhere to. They don’t have to follow the state’s rules regarding governing boards, schools, and school districts. They may, for example, have their own purchasing or procurement of services and goods methods, and are allowed to hire non-certified principals and teachers.
What Tuition-Free Public Charter Schools are Available for Children in Tucson, Arizona?
We recommend looking at EDGE High School as an option for you.
EDGE is a Cognia accredited, tuition-free, charter high school, with two campuses in the greater Tucson area. EDGE provides an alternative to traditional education, meeting the diverse learning and life needs of its students with a blended curriculum and flexible morning or afternoon class schedules. EDGE’s high-quality, passionate teachers are dedicated to individualized instruction in small academic classes.
Are There Other Tuition-Free and Public Charter Schools Available in Tucson, Arizona?
Parents can apply to any charter school of their choice in the state. Arizona rules state that “charter school shall enroll all eligible pupils who submit a timely application unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building.” Charter schools are not allowed to reject an application on the basis of the child’s current district or neighborhood.
What is The Process for Enrolling my Child in a Tuition-Free Public Charter School?
The admission process of charter schools in Arizona is much like other schools– they require parents to submit an application. Parents must be ready to provide the schools with specific information about their children such as the name, address, birth date, last school attended, and ethnic background.
A charter school may give preference to returning students and to siblings of currently enrolled pupils. They may also give enrollment preferences to kids who either meet the definition of unaccompanied youth or are currently in foster care.
Charter schools may also prioritize applicants who are the legal wards, children or grandchildren of their employees, members of the governing body of the school, officers, partners and directors of the charter holder, among others.
Charter schools that cannot enroll all students who submitted a timely application due to their lack of capacity will have to use an equitable selection process. The lottery is a common selection process used by many charter schools.
Do Public Charter Schools in Tucson, AZ offer High-Quality Education?
Arizona has had tuition-free public charter schools since 1994. For almost 30 years, Arizona has consistently ranked high in academic success across the country. The statistics for charter schools are no different.
- Students learn 6.7% more in each grade level than the U.S. average in Tucson and 12.8% more as a state overall.
- Public charter students outperformed the state average of students passing the mathematics test on average by 7 percentage points and 9 percentage points on the English Language Arts test.
- The Arizona Charter Schools Association’s report states public charter school students “outperform their peers, as AzMERIT results show charter students scored better than the state average in virtually every grade level and subject area for the third straight year.”
It is also worthy to note that charter schools’ passing rates in the AzMERIT had consistently improved over the years.
About Edge
EDGE is a Cognia accredited, tuition-free, charter high school, with two campuses in the greater Tucson area. We provide an alternative to traditional education, meeting the diverse learning and life needs of our students with our blended curriculum and flexible morning or afternoon class schedules. Our high-quality, passionate teachers are dedicated to individualized instruction in our small academic cla