There’s more to the academic landscape than just public and private schools. These institutions of learning have different types of schools within their respective categories, and all offer something for everyone. Here’s a brief description of the different types of elementary, middle, and high schools and colleges on planet academia.

Primary and Secondary Schools

Public schools: Financed by local, state, and federal government. They nearly always must admit any student who lives within the district in which the school is located. They do not charge tuition.

Charter schools: This type of public school began cropping up in the early 1990s. They are independently operated, started by parents, teachers, community organizations, and companies. These schools receive federal tax dollars, but the sponsoring group might also come up with private funding. These schools must adhere to the basic curricular requirements of the state, but are free from many regulations that apply to conventional public schools. They are not subject to the scrutiny of school boards or government authorities. Some charter schools specifically target gifted or high-risk kids. They usually have smaller classes and offer more individual attention than conventional public schools.

Magnet schools: These are free public schools that can be highly selective. They’re known for their special programs (such as science or the arts) and high academic standards. Applicants may go through a rigorous testing and application process. Some magnet schools have dormitories so students from other communities can enroll. Magnet schools were first launched in the 1970s to help desegregate public school systems. Student diversity is still a main goal of most magnet schools. Public school choice programs allow families to attend a school other than the one in their Private schools: These schools rely on tuition payments and funds from sources such as religious organizations, endowments, grants, and charitable donations. These schools select from a pool of students who apply for admission. They may be co-ed or single sex. About a third of the elementary and secondary schools in the United States are private.

assigned neighborhood.

Independent schools: These, like their name implies, are private, nonprofit schools governed by boards of trustees.  They draw their funds from tuition payments, charitable contributions, and endowments rather than taxes or church funds. They may be affiliated with a religious institution, but cannot receive funds from or be governed by them. Of the 34,000 private schools in the United States, only about 2,000 are independent. Many accept boarding students as well as day students.

Parochial schools: These church-related schools compose the majority of private schools in the United States and are most commonly owned and operated by Catholic parishes or dioceses, but also by Protestant denominations. Hebrew schools may also fall under the category of parochial. Their academic curriculum includes required daily religious instruction and prayer.

Proprietary schools: This is a relatively new category of school. Proprietary schools are private schools run for profit. They do not answer to any board of trustees or elected

officials. Many belong to an organization called the National Independent Private Schools Association. Tuition is comparable to that of private, nonprofit schools.

Home schools: Almost two million children are educated at home by parents or private tutors, or through online programs. Some homeschooling families join cooperatives to share resources and learn in a group setting. Most parents who choose homeschooling want to give their children religious or moral instruction, while other families are worried about the public school environment or unhappy with the quality of instruction there. Families can create their own curriculum or buy educational materials developed for homeschoolers. States regulate home schools and set requirements, but oversight varies widely. Higher Education

There are many types of higher education institutions that students can choose from when applying to college. The most well-known types of schools are four-year universities.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities: Many students choose to go to traditional four-year colleges or universities. These generally lead to a bachelor’s degree, and can be broken down into two categories: liberal arts colleges and universities.

Liberal Arts Colleges: Typically, students enrolled at a liberal arts college study courses in literature, philosophy, history, languages, mathematics, humanities, and social and natural sciences. These schools tend to be small, private and without a graduate school. Universities: Universities are generally larger and have a variety of degree options available. Many times, universities will contain several colleges within that campus that you may have to apply to specifically. Universities often have graduate schools as well, and you can earn a master’s or doctoral degree as well as a bachelor’s.

Community and Two-Year Colleges: Community colleges are the most common type of two-year colleges. They are designed to prepare you to continue your education or to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. They offer some types of associate degrees that allow you to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Other types of associate degrees and certificates focus on career readiness. They charge relatively low tuition to in-state residents and many students save even more money by living at home.

Trade and Vocational Schools: These are great for someone who already knows exactly what industry or career he or she wants to enter. These schools don’t require enrollment in a broad range of subjects; instead, students focus only on their areas of interest (such as culinary arts or dental hygiene). Upon completion of the program, a student receives a certificate or an associate degree.

Sources: dosomething.org and babycenter.com