HOW YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR BEST SCHOOL.

     Parents today have many choices when it comes to public high schools.

Communities may be home to traditional public high schools and several publicly funded alternatives – including magnet, charter and career and technical schools and programs – that are free to residents.

President Donald Trump's administration aims to expand programs that allow families to choose a school – public or private – and use public money to pay for it.

[Consider these 10 things when picking your child's high school.]

But many families may wonder what makes these alternatives distinct from their typical neighborhood public high school. The following facts may help.

  1. Charter schools are designed to be different. Charter schools are public schools run by independent groups, usually nonprofits, that have more freedom to do things differently, says Claire Smrekar, associate professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University.

For example, schools may have an atypical school calendar or schedule classes differently, she says. Charter schools receive greater autonomy, but generally must improve student performance, usually a requirement of charters granted by districts or states where schools are located.

However, outcomes are mixed at charter schools, which have been around since the 1990s, says Smrekar, whose research focuses on school choice. About 20 percent of the top 500 institutions in the 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings are charter schools.

Charter high schools typically emphasize college readiness, she says. "No excuses" charter high schools, in particular, are often very structured and stress discipline and high academic achievement. Circumstances like single parenthood or poverty do not justify poor performance in these schools.

Generally, charter school students are admitted through a lottery if there are not enough seats, Smrekar says. Transportation to and from school isn't always provided.

Oklahoma mom of four Christi Roselle has two high schoolers – one attends a magnet school, while another attends a charter. She says there are a few cons to both magnet and charter high schools – extracurriculars are more limited, for example. Overall, she's been very happy with both schools, but once her younger children reach high school she'd like to send them to the charter school because she thinks it's a better fit for her kids.

   2. Magnet schools were created in the 1970s as a tool to desegregate schools. Magnets are designed around a central theme, such as math and science or the performing arts, says Smrekar, the school choice expert.

These distinct schools aim to attract students from all over a district to create a diverse school, she says. Magnet schools today still aim to cultivate a diverse student body, but increasingly districts aren't under court order to do so.

Students are typically admitted to magnet schools through a lottery. At academically selective magnet schools, students need to meet certain academic requirements, Smrekar says. Some magnet programs are housed within traditional high schools.

Magnet schools make up about 15 percent of the top 500 schools in the 2017 high schools rankings.

[See what schools topped the Best High Schools rankings.]

"The smaller class size does allow youngsters who may not be as adept socially to find a social group," says Judith Peterson, principal of Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston, South Carolina, ranked No. 11 in the nation. She says the nature among students at the rigorous school, with about 160 students per grade, is to support each other.

While Peterson is a strong supporter of Academic Magnet, she says it's not for everyone and that she still believes in traditional public high schools.

    3. Career and technical programs aim to prepare students for in-demand jobs. High schoolers in career and technical programs today often prepare for sought-after jobs in fields like technology, says Smrekar.

Standalone high schools focused on career and technical education are not very common, though they exist. Learning isn't focused on a particular setting. Students could spend time at high school, a community college or employer, she says.

Teens leave high school with the skills and credentials needed to land an in-demand job or to continue their education.

Today, career and technical programs may be aligned with industry partners. Pathways in Technology Early College High School in Brooklyn, New York, for instance, operates with tech company IBM and the New York City College of Technology.

Students at this Brooklyn early career and college high school can stay for six years and graduate with a diploma, an associate degree in a STEM field – science, technology, engineering and math – and with in-demand industry skills, says Rashid Ferrod Davis, founding principal. Workplace learning opportunities are available during the 12-month school year.