Charter Schools - An Affordable Option
Charter Schools offer an alternative to your local public schools. These schools may be elementary, middle/junior high, or high school level. The schools are open to any student in Massachusetts, and admission is determined by lottery. Charter schools must live up to the same standards imposed on public schools. Each school has its own focus and curriculum, and if you are considering one for your child you should research the school's mission statement and background.
One example of a local charter school is the Murdoch Middle Public Charter in Chelmsford. This is a school for grades 5-8, with an enrollment of 263 students. The focus of the school appears to be on helping students to integrate their school learning with real life applications, and with future work-related applications, and to see the connections between the various subjects they are studying. There also appears to be a strong focus on technology and computer learning at Murdoch.
There are at least three charter schools in the Lowell area, including two in Lowell and one in Chelmsford. These can be attended by any student in Massachusetts, but currently seem to be serving students from about a twenty mile radius. For more information on the local charter schools, visit:
www.murdochschool.org
www.lowellocs.org
For more information on charter schools in general, and for a list of charter schools in Massachusetts, visit:
www.doe.mass.edu/charter/qanda.html