School Choice

How It Works

School choice encompasses a wide range of programs and options: charter schools, magnet schools, open enrollment (allowing students to attend any school in the district or state with available capacity), voucher programs (which provide public funding for private school tuition), education savings accounts (ESAs), tax credit scholarships, and virtual/online schools. Advocates argue that school choice empowers parents, particularly low-income families trapped in underperforming neighborhood schools, and that competition improves all schools. Critics contend that choice programs divert funding from traditional public schools, increase segregation, lack accountability (especially voucher programs), and benefit already-advantaged families who have the information and resources to navigate the system. The research evidence is mixed: some choice programs show positive effects for participants, while others show neutral or negative effects. The impact on students who remain in traditional schools is also debated. On OpenSchoolData, we support informed school choice by providing transparent, data-driven information for every public school in America. Whether a parent is considering their neighborhood school, a charter school, or a magnet program, the same federal data is presented consistently for comparison.

Related Terms

• Charter School, A publicly funded school that operates independently of the traditional school district system under a charter (contract) that grants operational flexibility in exchange for accountability for results.
• Magnet School, A public school with a specialized curriculum or theme, such as STEM, performing arts, or International Baccalaureate, designed to attract students from across a district or region regardless of neighborhood attendance zones.
• Title I, A federal program providing supplemental funding to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families, serving approximately 25 million students in over 56,000 schools.