What is a Charter School?
...and other Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides an overview of charter schools as well as some specifics about Our World Neighborhood Charter Schools (OWNCS).
A charter school is an independently run tuition-free public school that is granted the flexibility to create innovative programs. The “charter” establishing each school is a contract detailing the school’s mission, program, students served, performance goals, and methods of assessment. Each charter is governed by a Board of Trustees which is composed of leaders in community, business and education. Charter schools are held accountable for advancing student achievement; if they do not meet their goals, a charter school can be closed. The combination of freedom and accountability for success allows charter schools to try new approaches, respond to community needs and put student learning first.
Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They operate with freedom from some of the regulations that are imposed upon district schools. Charter schools vary in their instructional approaches, values, and school curriculum. Many charter schools have a longer school day and/or school year.
No. Students are selected for admission randomly by lottery.
Priority for available seats is based on the following:
Current sibling at the OWNCS school to which you are applying
Parent/guardian employed by OWNCS
Resident of School District 30 (if applying to OWN-Astoria)
Resident of School District 27 (if applying to OWN 2-Howard Beach)
Nationwide, students in charter schools have similar demographic characteristics to students in the local public schools. In some states, charter schools serve significantly higher percentages of minority or low-income students than the traditional public schools. OWNCS is committed to providing educational opportunities for children in underserved communities, and believes in creating socio-economically and culturally diverse schools.
- New York City Charter School Center
- What are Public Charter Schools (National Alliance for Public Charter Schools)
- Separating Fact from Fiction (National Alliance for Public Charter Schools)
- Separating Fact from Fiction in 21 Claims about Charter Schools (Washington Post)
- What is a Charter School? (Public School Review)
- SUNY Charter Schools Institute
- NYSED Charter School Office