Did you know that more than 41% of Arizona’s K-12 students attend an alternative school rather than their public district school? Leading the nation in school choice, Arizona offers families more personalized choices in education, and parents are free to choose the type of schooling that best matches their children’s needs.
What is school choice? Schools are diversified by several factors; whether they’re public or private, the curriculum taught, the school’s philosophy, and the methodology behind their teaching; these all provide parents with an array of school choices. You can choose from one of 237 district schools, 400 private schools, 550 charter schools, virtual schooling, or homeschooling. Let’s take a closer look at the alternative choices to Arizona’s public schools:
- Charter schools
- Private schools
- Homeschooling in Arizona
- Online schools
Charter Schools in Arizona
Charter schools are publicly funded, independent schools that offer an alternative education to that which is provided to students in the traditional school setting. They frequently approach education with a specific pedagogy or teaching method, such as a Montessori school, a Classical Education school, or one that is focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education.
Charter schools operate under a charter, which is a written grant by the state’s legislation. These schools are then overseen and held accountable by the Arizona Charter School Board of Education. They offer the same core subjects of study as the district schools; however, they’re free to engage their students in learning methods that aren’t available in traditional schools.
Among the many advantages of a charter school education are:
- Smaller class size
- Strong parental involvement
- A specialized focus and curriculum
- Higher graduation rates
- Inclusivity regardless of physical or mental ability, race, religion, cultural background
- Accountability for its performance
One particularly outstanding school is the Leman Academy of Excellence. With schools located in both Arizona and Colorado, Leman utilizes a Classical Education approach with its K-8 students. Leman’s philosophy embraces training the heart as well as the mind; building character as well as knowledge. Having over 6,000 students, Leman Academy engages “parents as partners” to give their children an individualized, high-quality education.
Private School Choice in Arizona
As a parent exploring private schools in Arizona, you’ll find another choice with several benefits. Among them are teacher-to-student ratios between 10:1 and 15:1. With small classes, teachers can form closer relationships with their students. They can provide instruction that is tailored to individual students’ needs and learning styles.
The academic bar is raised a bit higher in private schools. The National Center for Education Statistics supports the fact that private schools provide higher academic standards than public schools. Many of the state’s private schools are college preparatory high schools, requiring robust studying, from which students graduate and attend top colleges and universities.
Private schools are free to develop their own curricula, however, they must comply with Arizona state law to teach the core subjects. The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) are affiliated with 73% of Arizona’s private schools. As a parent, it may be important to you that your child learn in an environment supported by the same philosophical and religious beliefs that you value.
Finally, private schools provide safe environments. With a lower teacher-to-student ratio, observation and oversight regarding issues of student safety have a greater presence in the school environment. In fact, 72% of private school parents strongly agree that their children’s schools are safe.
There is one major difference between public and private schools — the way they’re funded. Parents are responsible for financially supporting their children’s education in a private school. In 2024, Arizona’s private elementary school tuition per year averaged $10,196 per student. High school tuition averaged $14,321 per student.
If a private school is your choice, you will be pleased to find financial assistance in tax-credit scholarships, school vouchers, and donations made by businesses and community organizations. In addition, most states have scholarship programs for private schools, often prioritizing lower-income families and children with special needs.
Arizona’s Homeschool Choice
Homeschooling is the educating of school-aged children at home instead of sending them to a traditional school. If you want more control and personalization over your children’s education, homeschooling is a practical option. Children with disabilities such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or physical disabilities, frequently blossom when allowed to receive their schooling at home. It’s also a great solution for children who live in rural areas who would otherwise have a long commute to school.
If you choose to educate your children at home, you’ll have significant autonomy over your choice of curriculum and methods of teaching. The subjects to be taught are not prescribed by Arizona law. No one but you, the parent, controls the structure or methodology of your teaching.
Homeschooling in Arizona is completely legal. It’s estimated that 4% of K-12 students in this state learn from home.
To begin homeschooling, you must submit a notarized affidavit of your intent to homeschool to the county school superintendent within 30 days of schooling and keep records of your children’s progress. There is no mandatory standardized testing or teacher qualification requirement, nor will your home be subject to inspections by school authorities. The only requirement is that children from ages 6 to 16 receive an education. Community organizations and resources that support homeschooling families exist in abundance. The Great Homeschool Convention holds conventions in several states each year with tons of resources, speakers, workshops, and publications for parents interested in homeschooling.
Other organizations are more localized. Arizona is one of many states where parents can find Classical Conversations, a Christian-based curriculum that follows the classical education model. Students meet two full days per week to share and learn new material together, then follow up with assignments at home.
Local communities also have co-op programs, parent homeschooling organizations, and opportunities for homeschooled kids to assemble for academic, athletic, and social engagement.
The Online School Option
In November of 2022, the Arizona State Department of Education created the Arizona Online Instruction Program (AOI) to allow schools to provide online schooling, with courses to be approved by the Arizona State Board of Education for district schools, and the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools for charter schools.
Virtual learning at home involves accessing lessons from a nearby or virtual school on your family’s computer. All your child needs is a computer with internet access and to meet the school’s enrollment criteria. Likewise, your child must meet the attendance requirements, and participate in assessments as per the school’s policies.
With technology as advanced as it is today, your online-educated child will enjoy virtual classrooms, virtual tutoring, an online help desk, meetups for collaboration, virtual tutoring, and email.
If you’re interested in this school option, here’s how it works. After your child is enrolled in an online school, he or she will be assigned a highly qualified teacher who will deliver lessons, assignments, and assessments, and engage in parent communication; you will be viewed as a “learning coach” for your child. Your child will spend about four hours a day with an online education. This amount of time is equivalent to the time-on-task that students in a “brick and mortar” school spend each day.
One example of a highly regarded online school is The Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA). This institution is a full-time public school with an emphasis on a college preparatory education.
Or you might be interested to learn more about Leman’s Virtual Academy. Here, students in grades K-8 enjoy a hybrid learning experience — learning at home but from an established school outside the home. Leman’s Virtual Academy is a tuition-free, rigorous Classical Education form of schooling. Students can even attend in-person events, and participate in sports and extracurricular activities while attending Leman’s Virtual Academy.
Conclusion
Every child is different. Your child is unique, too. Living in Arizona provides you with a wonderful assortment of school options from which to choose. Explore these school choice options and find the one that best suits your family. You can choose from attending a public district school, a free public charter school, a private school, an online school, or you can school your children in the comfort of your home. Remember to explore the Leman Academy of Excellence. It provides both an in-person experience for students as well as a virtual learning option. If you choose Leman’s Virtual Academy, your child will also have opportunities to participate in person with its many social, athletic, and fine arts events. Check out this free-from-tuition, highly-qualified, Classical Education academy before you make your final decision.