Charter schools provide an alternative to traditional public schools

One of the many, but very important items on the checklist of things to do for a family relocating to the Phoenix area is researching schools.  Which school is the best school in the area we want to live? Which district is the best? Do they have extra-curricular activities? And the questions go on and on.  These families will also have to add another question that they may not have considered previously, “What about charter schools?”

Quick Facts about Arizona Charter Schools

Charter schools are public, state funded schools that came into existence as a result of legislation that was passed in 1994, making Arizona the 10th state to pass a charter school law at that time.  It is also known as one of the ”strongest” charter laws in the nation allowing a high degree of autonomy from traditional public school regulations.   The term of a school’s charter is 15 years with reviews every 5 years by the sponsoring board.    Charter schools are funded by the state based on student attendance and cannot charge tuition.

The reason why families coming to Arizona may have not heard much about charter schools prior to coming arriving in Arizona is that of the 4,000 charters issued in the U.S., over 500 are in Arizona. Approximately 25% of the state’s public schools are charter schools, and 10% of public school students are enrolled in charter schools, the highest percentage of any state in the nation.

Many parents and students feel more comfortable with a smaller school setting and charter schools have received positive press. Websites that provide more information include the Arizona Charter Schools Association, and the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.  Some charter schools are some of the state’s top performing schools.

To see a list of charter schools in Arizona, click on the state charter school list.  Once you click on the school name and go to the school page, you’ll find the school report card immediately below the school name at the top. You can also search for charter schools by name, city, zip code, sponsor name or county.

All four of our sons have attended charter schools at some point during their education. I asked my wife if she thought it gave them a better educational experience.  Her reply was, “that depends on what you’re looking for”.  Charter schools tend to be smaller in student population and therefore cannot offer some of the programs of larger schools such as sports, band,  and do not provide transportation.  At the same time,  charter schools tend to focus more on a curriculum philosophy or specialty. Like any choice, there are pros and cons to any decision.   My advice would be to talk to parents of students who attend a specific charter school.

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Schools near lake communities

For more information, click on Schools in Arizona.

In the November 10, 2008 issue Business Week recognized Gilbert as one of the top places in Arizona to raise children. Obviously, they have their rating system which produced Gilbert as their top pick and makes parents in other towns & cities cry foul.  Knowing the valley pretty well I reflected on the different qualities of each town and instead of questioning their choice, I tried to build a list in my mind of why I would support Gilbert a top choice, even if it was not number 1.

What makes Gilbert a top choice

• Schools – School performance was one of the factors weighted heavily in the evaluation of towns of at least 50,000 and a median family income of $40,000 – $100,000.  The Gilbert school  district is consistently a top performing district in the valley.  Living in Arizona, you also have the opportunity to choose a charter school if you wish, which are privately run and publically fund so there is no additional tuition cost.
• Safety – The other factor that was weighted heavily in the analysis.  Gilbert so far has been able to achieve low crime rates in many categories and hopefully that trend continues.

Now here are the unique parts of Gilbert that I believe need to be highlighted.

• Parks – Obviously, Freestone Park comes to mind when you talk about Gilbert parks.  Gilbert also has a canine friendly park, called Cosmo Dog Park located at the 202 and Ray Road.  In west Gilbert, McQueen District Park is home to  the 27,000 sq.ft. McQueen Activity Center that includes indoor basketball, air hockey, ping pong tables, billiard tables, multi-purpose and classrooms.  For a more detailed list , click on Gilbert Town Parks.   The Riparian Preserve is a one of a kind 110 acre wildlife environment that is unique to Gilbert and home to over 200 bird species.
• Transportation – As you can see on the Gilbert town outline, the addition of the new 202 freeway makes Gilbert much more accessible and reduces the commute time for those working in Chandler or Phoenix. 
• Shopping - Not high on my list, but my wife has repeatedly stressed to me how important this is.  Because it is not a priority I have not taken any pictures since I only frequent malls on mothers day, Christmas and my wife’s birthday.  With the opening of the 202 freeway, shopping/retail development has increased dramatically. This is especially true of the area at Williams Field and the 202.
• Variety of Property.  Gilbert has more waterfront communities than any other city in Phoenix. It also has waterski lake home communities including Playa del Rey Estates, Santan Lakeside Estates, and Crystal Point.  Lakefront communities include Val Vista Lakes, The Islands, Lago Estancia, Stonebridge, and Windrift.  Gilbert also has a good variety of horse property with irrigation for those with an equestrian interest.  If you’re looking for a luxury custom home in a peaceful setting, Gilbert will not disappoint you.
• Planning – It is frequently mentioned how Gilbert has been one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.  One document that assists them in controlling this growth is the Gilbert land use map.  Land use maps are common to many valley cities, but Gilbert has had the advantage of being such a relatively new city and being able to follow this as a guideline in its development.
• Entertainment – In this respect, it’s good we have access to other parts of the valley.  However, it you’ve never been to the Hale Centre Theatre, you really need to put it on your list.

There are a lot of great places to raise children in Arizona, including Gilbert.

Satellite view of Gilbert