Alternative Schools

More About Alternative Schools

Alternative schools are designed to educate students who have not been successful in regular schools, often because of their troubling behavior and failure to engage in their education. An alternative school may involve a range of different educational settings other than the typical school.  An alternative school is a school that doesn’t provide the typical educational experience. Another way to think of an alternative school is that it is designed to educate students who haven’t been successful in regular schools, often due to behavioral issues or learning disabilities.

Alternative schools provide educational options for students who are not successful in typical schools. Over the years, they have been viewed as schools where “troubled teens” go, but that’s not necessarily the case. Many students in alternative schools do not have behavioral problems. However, they may have attendance problems and need an alternative school to get back on track.

In some alternative schools, children attend for credit recovery, and once they’ve earned a sufficient number of credits, they transfer back to a traditional school.

Of course, some students in alternative schools do have behavior problems.1 If you have your child has such problems and hasn’t been served well in a traditional school, an alternative school may help.  Many alternative schools have regular and special education programs and use facility-wide behavior intervention programs. Often there is a lower student-to-adult ratio, and staff has been trained to address complex behavioral needs. Psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists may also provide services to students in alternative schools.

Exploring the Different Types of Alternative Schools

Alternative schools can be part of the public school system, or they can be privately run. Some examples of private alternative schools include charter schools and parochial schools. Public alternative schools are sometimes located in the same building as a traditional school and are sometimes located within institutional settings such as hospitals or juvenile justice facilities.

An alternative high school offers unique learning opportunities in a more individualized environment for teenagers who aren’t succeeding in traditional high school. Most communities offer the following:

• Alternative Education Programs: Most high schools offer some alternative programs. These alternative programs use the same curriculum followed in the public school system, but the information is taught differently. Programs include independent study, continuation programs, online, and teen parent schools.

• Charter Schools: Each state sets its own standards for charter schools, and they vary greatly across the country. Charter schools operate independently from the public school system, are usually more innovative, and are publicly funded based on enrollment. Public charter schools must meet the same academic standards as traditional public schools.

• Virtual or Online Schools: Online high schools allow teens to work from home. Educational programs range from being completely independent and self-paced to teacher-taught programs that follow traditional semester scheduling. Most public school districts offer this option, and for a fee, there are many private virtual schools available.

• Magnet Schools: Many communities originally opened magnet schools to offer specialized classes. Some provide advanced science, engineering, performing arts, vocational education, or agricultural education. They often attract students who feel “stuck” in bad public schools.

Other examples of alternative schools include the following:

• Boarding schools or therapeutic boarding schools (residential educational facilities) can also be called boys ranches, boys homes, residential treatment centers, and even Christian boarding schools (if they accept troubled teens).

• Vocational centers, often with job training opportunities

Though they were created to help troubled students who were failing in a traditional public school setting, today’s alternative schools appeal to many students. Many alternative schools have special education programs, for example, or have on-staff psychologists, social workers, and/or psychiatrists.

Alternative schools are designed to address various needs, so they have very diverse student bodies. Some of the students most likely to attend alternative schools include:

• • Students with medical needs that require more comprehensive care

• • Students who are at-risk for or have dropped out of school

• • Students who have been suspended, expelled, or incarcerated

• • Students who have behavioral or emotional challenges

• • Students with specialized talents or academic interests

• • Students who have certain disabilities or learning disorders

Another alternative to high-school students is the General Education Development (GED) program outside of a typical in-class educational program. Earning a GED certificate is considered equivalent to earning a high school diploma, but students can do more learning and study independently.

How Do I find the Right School?

The students in alternative schools are typically teenagers and old enough to decide what kind of academic environment they prefer. Ask your child what she thinks about attending an alternative school. Does she want a break from the traditional school? Would she benefit from going to an alternative school in any way?

For example, if your child has been diagnosed as having an emotional disturbance disability, would she be exposed to more familiar teachers educating children with similar diagnoses? Does the alternative school have a flexible schedule or a program that will make it easier for your child to graduate on time or closer to schedule?

Listen to your child’s input and weigh the pros and cons.

Your Options

If an alternative school makes you anxious but traditional school isn’t working for your child, consider other options. Is it possible for you to homeschool your child or enroll him in cyber school? Is your child capable of studying for and passing the GED exam? Or your child may need to transfer to a different traditional school where it will meet his needs, and negative peers do not influence him.

Consider whether getting your child counseling, tutoring, better transportation, or other services may help him excel in the traditional setting.

Sometimes, teens who struggle socially or academically in a traditional setting can thrive in an alternative school. Many choices may be available for you and your teen to explore to continue his high school education.  

If you’re considering an alternative school for your child, it’s important to know what opportunities exist. Talk to your child’s guidance counselor or therapist to learn more about the specific schools available in your area. Be willing to explore your teen’s options to find the setting that will best support your teen’s academic needs.

If your teenager needs to attend an alternative school for a time to get their life, attitudes, and academics back on track, please call Best Choice at 888-940-6278.  Best Choice Admissions Services (https://bestresidentialtreatment.com) provides free assistance to help you find the best and least costly alternative schools. Their assistance is always free and without obligation.