Choosing the right school for your child is a lot like finding the right pair of tennis shoes: What’s the cost? How comfortable do they feel? What kind of support do they offer? What’s the philosophy behind the brand? Most importantly, will they hold up for the long run? The same goes for finding the right charter school.
Selecting a school isn’t just about location or ratings. It’s about discovering a community—a place that practices meaningful traditions, strong values, inclusive connections, and a culture where your child feels seen, heard, and supported. For many families, traditional public schools check those boxes. For others, private schools offer what they’re looking for. And for a growing number, charter schools lie between the two. Every family has their own expectations, priorities, and needs when it comes to choosing a school. Just like finding the perfect pair of tennis shoes, it’s all about finding the perfect fit.
Understanding Charter Schools
Think of a charter school as the middle ground between traditional public and private education. Factually, they are publicly funded schools that are overseen by an authorizer and governed by independent organizations and boards—working to keep all those enrolled tuition-free. They have the autonomy to organize programs, classes, and learning approaches based on the needs of their students, rather than following a one-size-fits all model, as explained by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Charter schools were first introduced in the early 1990s, and today, nearly 8,000 operate across the country. Around 20 charter schools currently stand in the Baton Rouge area.
An Overall Appeal
The freedom and flexibility granted to charter schools allows creative traditions and cultures to develop. Under a unique structure—the ability to welcome students of any neighborhood, disability, race, national origin, gender, religion, and academic achievement—they are able to shape their specific environments to further include, inspire, and engage students and their families.
A lottery system is practiced at the majority of charter schools as a way to enforce equal opportunity to all applicants while keeping the number of students equal to the size of the school. On average, charter schools accommodate roughly 300 students, compared to traditional public schools, which typically enroll more than 500. This leads to smaller classrooms, where teachers can further connect with students on a one-on-one level.
Local Insight
Local charter schools have a unique way of fostering connection with their communities. While no two charter schools are the same, one school highlights on their official website and social media accounts specific values and missions that reflect the creativity and community spirit many families encounter within the charter landscape.
In a letter published on Bridge Academy’s website, Founder Mike Miles writes, “We recognize families are working hard to make a difference for their children, and we will partner with you to provide your students with the best education possible.” Parent-teacher conferences are held three times a year, and the school emphasizes that parents play an essential role in and out of the classroom. Bridge Academy encourages parents to volunteer in areas such as the front office, lunch and recess, classrooms, field trips, assemblies, and more, offering a chance to be hands-on in the school community.
Bridge Academy hosts events throughout the year that families and community members are said to enjoy. Their Truck or Treat event not only featured a “boo bus,” a trunk-decorating contest, and candy galore, but also served as an enrollment opportunity for local families. Feeding the Deserving, a community-centered initiative hosted by the SIP Initiative, transformed the school into a restaurant where 400 community members were reportedly served holiday meals by volunteers and partners. Bridge highlighted the event’s impact on their Facebook page, noting that Feeding the Deserving “seeks to restore dignity, build connection, and remind every guest that they matter.”
The Habits of Success “store” is an interactive way for students to learn the foundations of success. Each week, students earn tickets for displaying good behaviors such as responsibility, punctuality, and positivity, and can trade those tickets in for favorite snacks and rewards. Last November, the school also shared a DYAD hands-on, student-hosted podcast initiative called Bridging the Gap, where students interviewed Principal Kylon Wishom, along with other students and teachers, about Thanksgiving topics.
The Importance of Community
Just like Bridge Academy, charter schools are built on culture, tradition, and student and family involvement through a system of diverse enrollment, student and family engagement initiatives, creativity inside and outside of the classroom, and positive reinforcement on striving for excellence and fundamentals.
Looking deeper than whether a school is in good proximity or has good ratings is important when choosing a school that not only your child will thrive in, but you as a parent will, too. Just like choosing the right tennis shoe, choosing the right school matters, because the best fit is the one that makes all the difference in the long run.
