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 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.Like finding the perfect pair of shoes, it’s about 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 53 charter schools currently stand in the greater Denver region.
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
We spoke with the Downtown Denver Expeditionary School (DDES) to discover how they foster connection. While no two charter schools are the same, DDES reflects the creativity and community spirit many families encounter within the charter landscape.
Following a foundation built on a program called Expeditionary Learning–where real-world experiences and strong academics go hand-in-hand through extended projects with community contribution in mind–DDES emphasizes the importance of developing capable, compassionate, and resilient young people, whether in classrooms or in the community. While a bi-weekly Community Circle is held to highlight the joys and well doings of the students, a Celebration of Learning is held at the end of every project for an authentic audience to enjoy.
Fall Fest, Bluelapalooza, and the Family Dance are said to be beloved by students, as well as additional family nights like Math Night, Social Emotional Learning Night, Crew Club celebrations and dances, student-led conferences, and their annual auction and fundraiser–all events help families connect with the broader DDES community and their child’s learning.
“Service is woven directly into our expeditions and grows naturally from the issues students study—food systems, immigration, environmental stewardship, civic engagement, civil rights, and more,” says DDES representative Katianne Glesne. “Students work with community partners, learn from experts, and take meaningful action connected to their learning.” For example, DDES’s Compassion Day is their version of Valentine’s Day. They give back to the Denver community by supporting nonprofits, assembling care kits, and reinforcing compassion through community projects.
The Importance of Community
This is only the surface of the opportunities DDES offers their students–the Adventure Program, Meow Wolf Partnership, and fieldwork engagement projects to name a few more–that reflect the importance of community engagement. They build belonging and trust, notes Glesne, as well as opportunities for meaningful collaboration, and strengthens relationships between families, students, and staff. “Together, these experiences make DDES a vibrant, connected place where learning is active, student-driven, adventurous, and joyful–every single day.”
Just like the Downtown Denver Expeditionary School, 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.
