Choosing the right school for your child is a lot like finding the right pair of tennis shoes: What’s the cost? How comfortable do they feel? What kind of support do they offer? What’s the philosophy behind the brand? Most importantly, will they hold up for the long run? The same goes for finding the right school.
Selecting a school isn’t just about location or ratings. It’s about discovering a commity—a place that practices meaningful traditions, strong values, inclusive connections, and a culture where your child feels seen, heard, and supported. For many families, traditional public schools check those boxes. For others, private schools offer what they’re looking for. And for a growing number, charter schools lie between the two. Every family has their own expectations, priorities, and needs when it comes to choosing a school. Just like finding the perfect pair of tennis shoes, it’s all about finding the perfect fit.
Understanding Charter Schools
Think of a charter school as the middle ground between traditional public and private education. Factually, they are publicly funded schools that are overseen by an authorizer and governed by independent organizations and boards—working to keep all those enrolled tuition-free. They have the autonomy to organize programs, classes, and learning approaches based on the needs of their students, rather than following a one-size-fits all model, as explained by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Charter schools were first introduced in the early 1990s, and today nearly 8,000 operate across the country. Around 8 charter schools currently stand in the greater Birmingham region.
An Overall Appeal
The freedom and flexibility granted to charter schools allows creative traditions and cultures to develop. Under a unique structure—the ability to welcome students of any neighborhood, disability, race, national origin, gender, religion, and academic achievement—they are able to shape their specific environments to further include, inspire, and engage students and their families.
A lottery system is practiced at the majority of charter schools as a way to enforce equal opportunity to all applicants while keeping the number of students equal to the size of the school. On average, charter schools accommodate roughly 300 students, compared to traditional public schools, which typically enroll more than 500. This leads to smaller classrooms, where teachers can further connect with students on a one-on-one level.
Local Insight
We researched local charter schools to discover how they foster connection. While no two charter schools are the same, these schools highlight on their official websites specific values and missions that reflect the creativity and community spirit many families encounter within the charter landscape.
In a letter published on i3 Academy’s website, Head of School Martin A. Nalls writes “Regardless of the campus your child attends, the relationships between our faculty and families remain our top priority.” This school year, i3 Academy has hosted their Woodlawn Fall Festival, a family-friendly event that invites families and staff to gather together while also recognizing and celebrating school milestones as a community. The school also hosts a diaper drive, a service project that shows an initiative to social support and community aid.
Legacy Prep, the first public charter school in Birmingham, was recently awarded Best Elementary School in the Nation by U.S. News, showing that the values listed on their website–perseverance, wonder, excellence, love, and boldness–matter as a community-focused school built on positive impact. At Legacy Prep, programs, like their Birmingham Lets Move – Sports Program, and numerous partnerships with local theaters, hospitals, universities, and other groups, create interactive environments for students and families.
The Importance of Community
“These relationships serve as the foundation for character building and academic achievement,” writes Nalls on the impact these connections have on i3 Academy. “We value the school-to-home partnership greatly, and we aim to enhance it further this year by providing more opportunities for parent involvement.” Likewise, Legacy Prep states on its website that it values students and the wider community for who they are, shaping a school culture grounded in the love, joy, support, and excellence they contribute.
Just like i3 Academy and Legacy Prep, charter schools are built on culture, tradition, and student and family involvement through a system of diverse enrollment, student and family engagement initiatives, creativity inside and outside of the classroom, and positive reinforcement on striving for excellence and fundamentals.
Looking deeper than whether a school is in good proximity or has good ratings is important when choosing a school that not only your child will thrive in, but you as a parent will, too. Just like choosing the right tennis shoe, choosing the right school matters, because the best fit is the one that makes all the difference in the long run.
