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Public education in the United States has evolved into a complex maze of options designed to address a wide range of student needs and learning styles. However, the many choices can also make it challenging for parents to weed through and understand the various options available to them and their children. To help break it down, check out this list of some of the more common options in public schooling today.

Neighborhood Schools

The traditional community school continues to be the most common type of institution of public education today. Public schools in a district are typically zones, so those living in the community know which school they are assigned. Neighborhood schools allow students the opportunity to make friends with classmates right in their area. In some districts, parents can enroll their children in a school outside their immediate neighborhood if the chosen school is closer to the parent’s workplace or if the parent wants his child to attend a different school.

Charter Schools

Charter schools began to appear in the 1990s, and their presence has consistently grown in all but ten states nationwide. lists the states without current charter laws as Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, South Dakota, Washington, Vermont, West Virginia, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota. Charter schools are public schools, but parents choose to send their children to a charter school rather than attend based on district zoning.

Like other schools, charters receive money from taxes and raise private funding. Charter

Choosing a public school for your child is a much more complex task today. With many more options available than the neighborhood school down the street, parents often feel overwhelmed with determining their child's specific needs and researching the schools to find the best fit for them. There are several factors to weigh when choosing a school, and many of the most important features are listed below.

District Zones and Your Neighborhood School

For many families, the best school may be the neighborhood school down the street. Students are typically assigned to a specific elementary school by district zoning, which divides the district using a precise formula that allows for the most even allotment of students at each school. However, according to , the problem with choosing a school strictly based on zoning is that boundaries can change throughout a child’s academic career. One school may see significant growth that results in overcrowding, initiating a zoning change. Other schools may see enrollment drops that require either rezoning school boundaries or closing and consolidating schools.

One school may see significant growth that results in overcrowding, initiating a zoning change. Other schools may see enrollment drops that require either rezoning school boundaries or closing and consolidating schools. Parents concerned about possible zoning changes during their child’s academic career may want to inquire about open enrollment options. Some districts may allow families to enroll students at the school they have been attending in case of a

Schools nationwide require resources to operate, and that typically boils down to money. The way in which schools get their funding varies from state to state and district to district. However, there are a few basic funding principles that are relatively uniform throughout the country. With funding coming from a variety of resources, and allocation determined in various ways, it is helpful to understand the basics of funding public schools to discover where these important institutions get the resources they need to educate students across America.

Where does the Money Come From?

According to , public school funding comes from a variety of sources at the local, state and federal level. Approximately 48 percent of a school’s budget comes from state resources, including income taxes, sales tax, and fees. Another 44 percent is contributed locally, primarily through the property taxes of homeowners in the area. The last eight percent of the public education budget comes from federal sources, with an emphasis on grants for specific programs and services for students that need them.

This TEDTalk discusses the funding of public schools.

The website for the U.S. Department of Education explains that during the 2004-2005 school year, about 83 cents from every dollar spent on education came from state and local sources. Around eight percent is contributed by the federal government, and another eight or nine percent might come from private entities.

Public education is a core element to an educated society and a successful democracy. The evolution of public schools in the United States began early in the 17^th century, with the first settlers on American soil. Today, the public school system in the U.S. is a complex one with a multi-tiered form of governance and a multitude of programs to address the varying needs of students and their families. Understanding the definition, purpose and operation of public schools in the U.S. helps one get a broad picture of what public education in this country looks like.

Definition of Public Education

defines public schools as primary or secondary schools that are available to everyone within a country’s population. The schools are regulated and funded through government authority, and attendance is mandated by that government authority. Funding typically comes from taxation of the country’s citizens, and the money is generally allocated through the government entity designated to oversee the public school system.

This video offers a brief explanation of the American public school system.

In the United States, there is a three-tiered form of governance that oversees public education, which includes federal, state and local levels. At the federal level, the Department of Education, currently overseen by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, is the entity that established policies and laws involving education in the U.S. State education agencies also play a role in

Public schools enjoy a long and illustrious history in the United States, with the first schools in the country dating almost as far back as the arrival of the Puritans on U.S. shores. Since that time, the purpose, philosophy, and goals of public education have been examined and debated, up to the development of the public school system still in existence today. How we got to the current point in public education warrants a look back centuries at the very first schools dedicated to educating American youth.

Puritans Recognize Need for Public Education

As early as the 17^th century, the need for public education was recognized by the Puritans living on American shores at the time. This population determined education was essential both for teaching basic academic skills and core religious values. Boston Latin School was established as the first public high school in 1635 in Boston, Massachusetts. The school is still in operation to this day.

This video looks at early American education.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony decreed in 1647 that towns of 50 people should have a public elementary school, and those with populations of over 100 should have a Latin school. The primary function of schools at this time was to teach reading so that children learned to read the Bible. Schools also taught Puritan values and basic information about the Calvinist religion, according to Applied Research Center.

Religion Dominates Early