School choice options have increased dramatically in recent years 鈥� especially in Arizona. What does that mean? It means parents have more educational options for their children, such as public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online schools, and perhaps even something alternative like a microschool.

Types of schools you can choose in Arizona

Public schools

Public schools are free to attend. Families typically have an assigned school to start with. On 樱桃视频.org, type in your address and use our district boundary tool to find your assigned schools for every level (elementary, middle, and high school). Typically parents go to the district office to enroll in a public school but sometimes you can do part or all of the process online. Read more about public schools.

Public charter schools

Charter schools are public and free to attend. However, charter schools are not part of the local school district. This means they operate outside of the local school system and thus can have different rules, calendars, etc. Some charter schools have specific criteria to attend or hold a lottery to determine which students get admitted. Once a student is admitted, then families can enroll. Read more about charter schools.

Public magnet schools

Magnet schools are public and so free to attend. However, they are typically designed to offer a specific curriculum or program (e.g. performing arts, STEM, etc.) and enroll students from across the district (or sometimes the state). Enrollment can depend on specific criteria, applications, or a lottery when there are more students who want to attend than spots available. Once a student is admitted, then families can enroll. Read more about magnet schools.

Private schools

Private schools are owned and operated outside of the public school system. The schools choose their own curriculum and schedules. Their students are not required to take the same state standardized tests that public school students are required to take (typically in grades 3-8, and once in high school) and the schools are not held accountable for students鈥� learning. Families typically need to apply to private schools for admission. Once admitted, families need to pay annual tuition for each child that attends. Arizona has a few ways to help parents pay for private school tuition (see below). Independent private schools are typically non-religious. Parochial schools are typically religious and associated with a church, which sometimes helps keep the tuition costs down. Learn more about private schools.

Online schools

There are public and private online schools available in Arizona. Public online schools are associated with the public school system at the district or state level and are free to attend. The state or district may have specific requirements for enrollment. Like in-person private schools, online private schools have their own admissions process and are not free and will have an annual tuition or other fee-based structure.

Microschools

Microschools are small, personalized learning environments. They鈥檙e often created with a specific purpose or student body in mind and are not subject to the same regulations as traditional schools. As the name suggests, these alternative learning environments often have small class sizes (e.g. 5-10 students) and may have classrooms serving multiple grades together. Families need to apply for microschools. Once admitted, families can enroll. Microschools are not free and have an annual or other tuition fee.

Homeschooling

Parents in Arizona can choose to homeschool their children. Compared to other states, Arizona鈥檚 homeschooling rules are relatively relaxed. Homeschooling allows parents and children freedom in their daily schedules and latitude in what they learn and how. However, homeschooling can present challenges, too. Many parents choose to purchase a homeschooling curriculum to help ensure they are teaching their child similar topics as children in public schools so that they don鈥檛 fall behind. Homeschooling parents also need to consider how to ensure their children are getting the social skills and exposure to other children they need to thrive. Read more about .

Types of school choice in Arizona

Public school choice

In Arizona, most families have a public school they are zoned for based on their address. However, Arizona has intra-district and inter-district open enrollment policies, which allow students to attend traditional public schools outside their zoned school. Intra-district enrollment means families can request a transfer to a different school within their zoned school district. Inter-district enrollment means families can request a transfer to a school in a different school district.

Arizona also has charter schools and magnet schools, which are public and free to attend, but operate slightly differently than traditional public schools.

Charter school choice

Charter schools are public schools that operate outside of the traditional public school district rules and regulations. They are free to attend. Families typically need to apply for charter schools. Admission is often based on a lottery. Read more about charter schools.

Magnet schools

Magnet schools are part of the school district but enroll students regardless of their address. Magnet schools often have specific programs (e.g. performing arts, STEM, etc.) and may require students to apply, share a portfolio, or even interview. Admissions can be based on applications, specific criteria, or a lottery.

Online school choice

There are both public and private online schools. Parents can choose a public online school for their child, but there may be specific requirements for enrollment. Parents can also choose a private online school. Arizona has five programs to make choosing a private school more accessible to all. Read below to evaluate how one or more of these programs may apply to a private online school.

Private school choice

Parents can choose a private school for their child. Families need to apply to private schools. Once admitted, students can enroll. Private schools charge an annual tuition per student. Read more below about Arizona鈥檚 five programs designed to help parents pay private school tuition.

Microschools

Parents can choose a microschool for their child. Families need to apply to microschools. Once admitted, students can enroll. Microschools charge tuition per student. Read more about Arizona鈥檚 five programs designed to help families pay for non-public schools to see if they may help your family pay for a microschool.

Homeschooling

Parents can choose to homeschool their children. Read more about .

5 types of private school choice in Arizona

Arizona has gone to great lengths to make it more financially possible for families to choose a private school for their children. The state has five different programs aimed at helping parents pay private school tuition 鈥� one education savings account and four tax credit scholarship programs. Here are the five different programs Arizona families can access.

1. Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA)

This is an education savings account, but it鈥檚 funded by the money allocated by the state for your child to attend public school in Arizona.

Arizona鈥檚 ESA program lets parents receive up to 90 percent of your child鈥檚 public school funding (typically about $7,000 per year) when you opt out of public school. Families can use the money to pay for private school tuition, online schools, education therapies, private tutoring, or future educational expenses.

All students qualify for Arizona鈥檚 ESA. If you choose this option, you will need to sign a contract with the stating, among other things, that you follow certain . Read more about .

It鈥檚 worth noting that a student may not participate in the ESA program and receive any of the tax-credit scholarship programs.

2. The 鈥淪witcher鈥� Individual Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program

This is one of the four tax-credit programs.

Basically, private donors fund this program by donating to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), which are nonprofit organizations that provide private school scholarships. The donors then receive tax credits for their donation.

Families apply to STOs for scholarships that can be used to pay private school tuition. The scholarships may pay all or part of a student鈥檚 tuition. Students can apply to and receive scholarships from more than one STO. Read more about the .

3. Lexie鈥檚 Law for Disabled and Displaced Students Tax Credit Scholarship Program

This is one of the four tax-credit programs.

This program is also funded by private donors who donate to STOs and receive tax credits for their donation.

Families apply to STOs for scholarships. Only students who have special needs or who are part of the Arizona foster care system (currently or in the past) are eligible for these scholarships.

Under this program, the scholarship amounts can be the amount of the private school tuition or 90 percent of what the state would be paying for the child to attend public school, whichever is less. Read more about .

4. Low-Income Corporate Income Tax Scholarship Program

This is one of the four tax-credit programs.

This program is also funded by private donors who donate to STOs and receive tax credits for their donation, but in this case, the private donors are businesses.

Families apply to STOs for scholarships. However, only families whose household income is equal to or below 185 percent of the federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL) program are eligible for these scholarships. (That鈥檚 $106,782 for a family of four in 2024-2025.) There are additional requirements, too. Read more about the .

5. Original Individual Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program

This is one of the four tax-credit programs. It was the first one created and launched in 1997.

This program is also funded by private donors who donate to STOs and receive tax credits for their donation. Taxpayers cannot make STO donations that are earmarked for their own dependents鈥� scholarships.

Families apply to STOs for scholarships that can be used to pay private school tuition for kindergarten through high school. Pre-kindergarten students with certain disabilities attending qualifying schools may also qualify. The scholarships may pay all or part of a student鈥檚 tuition. Students can apply to and receive scholarships from more than one STO.

Key websites to learn more about Arizona school choice