Charter Schools

T AXPAYER-funded but privately run, charter schools can set their own schedules and experiment with novel classroom practices. Many offer Saturday classes, longer school days, required lessons during summer and other breaks, and extra courses in specific subjects like math, art, or science.

More than 70 charter high schools in all five boroughs are set to accept students in ninth grade and beyond in 2018. However, some are affiliated with a network that “feeds” students from connected elementary and middle schools, leaving few seats available for new high school freshmen.

All charter schools operate a lottery each spring to fill their open seats – and do not screen prospective students for grades, test scores, interviews or attendance, as do many Department of Education schools. But the demand is far greater than the slots available. At Math, Engineering, and Science Academy Charter High School in Brooklyn, for example, 615 kids applied for just 141 seats in the 2017-2018 lottery.

Charter highs are not part of the city’s regular highschool application process. A student must apply sepa- rately for each charter school’s lottery, either online or on paper, before April 1. Siblings of current students and kids who live in the local community school district are typically given priority in the lottery.

A few charter schools will accept transfer highschool students — meant for older teens at risk of dropping out — or kids in special situations, such as those whose families are homeless.

School visits are not typically required by charter schools and don’t usually affect the lottery results, but because every charter school is independent, policies vary. That makes parent involvement a crucial factor. Kids often need adult help to navigate the various schools’ entry rules and requirements for a chance at snagging a coveted seat.

New York City charter schools may be authorized by the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, the state Education Department, or the city Department of Education. The “charter” itself, a contract granted by each school’s authorizing agency, is a public document that spells out the school’s operations and goals. Charters that don’t live up to those aims can be swiftly shut down.