Common Questions & Answers Helping You Navigate School Choice

School choice allows parents to select the best educational setting for their child, whether that’s a public school, private school, charter school, or homeschool. By giving families more options, school choice empowers you to find an environment where your child can thrive academically and personally. Research shows that when parents have more control over their child’s education, students often experience higher academic achievement, better engagement, and improved social outcomes.

• Tailored Educational Experience: School choice allows you to select from various educational environments—public, charter, private, or homeschool—that best align with your child’s unique learning style, strengths, and interests. This flexibility ensures that your child receives an education that supports their individual needs and fosters their academic and personal growth.

• Access to Specialized Programs: With a range of school options, your child can benefit from specialized programs and curricula that cater to their specific interests and talents. Schools such as Piney Woods School and the Mississippi School of the Arts provide unique opportunities and advanced programs in areas like the arts, sciences, and vocational training, giving your child the chance to excel in their chosen field.

• Enhanced Opportunities: School choice opens doors to diverse educational experiences and extracurricular activities that may not be available in traditional public schools. From advanced placement courses and innovative teaching methods to enrichment programs and community partnerships, school choice ensures that your child has access to a broad spectrum of opportunities that can enrich their learning journey and help them achieve their full potential.

One of the goals of school choice programs is to expand options for all families, including those in rural or underserved areas. As school choice gains momentum in Mississippi, more private and charter schools are opening, and virtual schooling options are also expanding, giving families in remote areas more access to high-quality education. 

School choice isn’t just about private or charter schools—it’s about ensuring every student has access to the best education for their needs, including in traditional public schools. When parents can choose the right educational environment, public schools are often motivated to innovate and improve their offerings. Many states have seen public schools respond positively to the increased competition by enhancing programs, improving teacher quality, and introducing specialized curricula. School choice empowers you to find the best fit for your child, whether it’s in a public, private, or charter school.

School choice doesn’t have to come at the expense of public schools. In fact, competition often spurs public schools to innovate and improve. When public schools and alternative options compete for students, it creates an incentive for all schools to offer better services and outcomes. States with school choice programs, like Florida, have seen improvements not only in private schools but also in public school performance.

School choice helps level the playing field for low-income families who might otherwise be stuck in underperforming public schools. By providing access to better educational options—whether it’s a public, private, or charter school—school choice ensures that every child, regardless of their background or income, has the opportunity to succeed. In fact, data shows that school choice programs often benefit disadvantaged students the most, helping close the achievement gap and offering a path to upward mobility.