Guide to Education Options

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
ESV

Today’s parents have a myriad of options for educating their children, each with its strengths and weaknesses.  Parents should prayerfully review the options available and revisit regularly as the needs of each family, each child, and each age may change over time.

And while this is an important decision, we remember two things:

Parents are the primary teachers in our kids’ lives, responsible to oversee the education process and communicate regularly with our children and with their teachers. 

The Lord is the one who holds each of our lives in His hands.  So while we teach our children diligently, let us pray for guidance, for wisdom, and for the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into our children’s hearts as only He can. 

(select a button below for descriptions of PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
CHARTER SCHOOLS, and HOMESCHOOL)

Public Schools
Private Schools
Charter Schools
Homeschool

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Public schools are publicly funded through local taxes and state allocations with resources distributed based on district needs and priorities.  They are open to all students in a district and follow state-mandated curricula.

BENEFITS –

  • Because they are publicly funded, public schools are free to attend (but may have fees for certain activities or programs).
  • Open to all students within a specific district, public schools tend to have a more diverse student body, reflecting the demographics of the surrounding community. This can be an ideal environment for interacting with the culture, both to learn and make a gospel impact.
  • Public schools follow state-mandated curricula, ensuring a standard education for all students.
  • A classroom environment helps teach children about self-control (taking turns, hands to yourself, sitting still, etc.) as well as social skills like making friends, sharing, and appropriate behavior.

ALSO CONSIDER –

  • Public schools may have larger class sizes and a higher student-teacher ratio.
  • Because they are publicly funded, public schools have state-mandated curricula which may conflict with biblical values.
  • The larger class sizes and diverse student body may create a challenging cultural environment, introducing students to language, practices, and beliefs which may conflict with biblical values.
  • While parents can’t control what children are taught or who they interact with in public schools, this creates an opportunity for parents to teach discernment, guide toward proper responses, and have intentional, gospel-centered conversations with kids at home.

SPECIAL NEEDS –

  • Public schools are legally obligated to enroll and serve students with disabilities and special education needs, ensuring they receive an FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) as outlined in their IEPs (Individualized Education Programs). 
  • Positively, students with special needs can receive services easily inside of their school day.
  • On the other hand, students are often mainstreamed despite their learning challenges, rather than given individual attention and care. This can lead to them falling behind if the parents aren’t actively aiding every step of the way.

IN OUR COMMUNITY  –

  • Santa Clarita has public schools within several districts, including Newhall, Saugus, and William S. Hart Union High School District, serving approximately 21,000 students on18 campuses. 
Back to Top

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Private schools are funded by tuition and donations, can be selective in admissions, and often have more flexibility in curriculum and focus. 

BENEFITS –

  • Private schools have more freedom to create their own curricula, allowing them to provide specific Christian education. They may also offer specialized programs or focus areas for directed study.
  • Ideally, a Christian school provides an environment where Godly teachers, like-minded families, and God-seeking peers can invest in students’ lives as they explore and embrace their faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Private schools often have smaller class sizes and a lower student-teacher ratio compared with public schools, allowing for more individualized attention. 
  • A classroom environment helps teach children about self-control (taking turns, hands to yourself, sitting still, etc.) as well as social skills like making friends, sharing, and appropriate behavior.
  • Research has consistently shown that private school students tend to perform better on standardized tests. Keep in mind, student success is often directly related to family attributes (education and involvement), so strong parental partnership remains vital no matter which school they attend.

ALSO CONSIDER –

  • Private schools charge a tuition, which can be significant. Based on a variety of factors, local schools in Santa Clarita may charge $3,000 – $23,000 per student each year.
  • Just because a school has a mission statement as a Christian school, that doesn’t mean it won’t present a challenging cultural environment, including language, practices, and beliefs which may conflict with biblical values – made all the more challenging because it’s presented in a “Christian” setting.” Please continue to stay involved in your child’s faith journey, and pay attention to what they’re learning in their classes and from their friends.

SPECIAL NEEDS –

  • Resources for children with special needs will vary. Be sure to ask what considerations are offered, based on the needs of your own children.
  • When programs are available, students that have special needs are often charged for the extra programs and help.

IN OUR COMMUNITY  –

Back to Top

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools that operate independently from traditional school districts.

Unlike traditional public schools, which are governed by local school boards, charter schools operate under a “charter” agreement with an authorizing body (like a school district or state education agency) that outlines specific educational objectives and performance expectations.

While charter schools have freedom on how content is delivered, they are still held accountable to teach the standards of education the state requires.

BENEFITS –

  • Because they are publicly funded, receiving the same state and federal funding as traditional public schools, charter schools are free to attend (but may have fees for certain activities or programs).
  • At the same time, charter schools have flexibility on teaching methods, curricula, school structures, and resource allocation, which may lead to innovation beyond the public school approach to education.

ALSO CONSIDER –

  • While public schools accept all local students who enroll, charter schools are selective and only serve a small segment of the community’s students.
  • Charter schools may be structured differently from public schools, but as they are publicly funded, they have restrictions on curriculum and cannot be classified as “Christian education.”
    • If you wish to use a Bible-based curriculum, there may be options available. Please check with your Personalized Learning Teacher (PLT) to see what’s possible, or how to fit within their system without compromising on biblical standards.
  • Each charter school may look completely different. Be sure to ask whether on-site classes are offered, and how many days each week they are available.
    • For example: Students are Gorman Learning Center may meet on-site, but should expect to do most of the learning at home (similar to Homeschooling). Parents meet regularly with the provided Personalized Learning Teacher (PLT) who guides them through their personalized learning programs and ensures that they thrive in an at-home learning environment.
  • With many charter schools functioning similarly to homeschools, that may mean a heavy time investment for one or both parents on a daily basis.

SPECIAL NEEDS –

  • Charter schools, like public schools, are legally obligated to enroll and serve students with disabilities and special education needs, ensuring they receive an FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) as outlined in their IEPs (Individualized Education Programs). 
  • Many of the special needs services provided to meet IEP goals are done through zoom appointments rather than in person, which can be a significant challenge for some students. Make sure to check on how services are provided before committing to a specific program.

IN OUR COMMUNITY  –

Back to Top

HOMESCHOOL

Homeschooling is an educational approach where parents or family members take primary responsibility for educating their children at home, rather than sending them to a traditional public or private school. 

This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, with parents responsible to choose their approach while complying with state homeschooling laws.

BENEFITS –

  • Because parents take the lead in designing and implementing their child’s education, they can tailor the curriculum and learning environment to suit their child’s individual needs, learning style, and interests – ideally providing a safe environment to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually.
  • Ideally, a Christian homeschool provides an environment where Godly teachers, like-minded families, and God-seeking peers can invest in students’ lives as they explore and embrace their faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Homeschooling often allows for more flexible schedules and learning environments, which can include incorporating real-life experiences and activities.
  • There are numerous partnering organizations available for homeschooling families, many of which offer on-site instruction and classroom experience.
  • For example: Parents can do their own paperwork and turn in their own affidavits, but they may choose a private homeschool group to do that for them. Cornerstone SCV is one private homeschool group that takes care of the state paperwork for those who would like some assistance – https://www.cornerstonescv.org/

ALSO CONSIDER –

  • With parents directly overseeing the child’s education, this requires a heavy time investment for one or both parents on a daily basis. This is basically a full-time job.
  • Even a Christian homeschool may present a challenging cultural environment, including language, practices, and beliefs which may conflict with biblical values – made all the more challenging because it’s presented in a “Christian” setting.
  • One challenge for homeschooled children is socialization, as they will not necessarily be in classrooms every day with their peers. Many families choose to participate in co-ops, clubs, and other activities to foster peer socialization and interaction. 

SPECIAL NEEDS –

  • While homeschooling allows parents to tailor their child’s education to their specific needs, there are generally fewer resources available than with other educational options.

IN OUR COMMUNITY  –

Back to Top