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20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • December 2021 20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • December 2021 Next year my twins will be entering the ninth grade, their first year of high school. Their grades will soon "count" if they apply to colleges. The type of high school they attend will also be a considered factor by the col- lege admission boards. I attended a typical public high school, but my husband attended a public magnet high school, and he went to a private school for elementary through middle school. We both feel as if we received a good high school education that prepared us for college, but since we attended dif- ferent types of high schools, we wanted to explore all the options for our twins. Our different upbringings led to a discussion about what type of high school would be best for our twins. We also are considering if they should attend the same school since they have different needs and personalities. Before we can answer those questions, we researched all the different types of high schools. Even though I'm focusing on high schools, most of these options are also available at younger grades. Types of Schools PUBLIC Public schools offer free education to students living within the district. The funding for public schools is from local, state and federal tax dollars. These schools are supervised by local government authorities. There are different types and options of public schools such as school choice, vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, magnet and charter schools. School Choice: Some public schools offer school choice which means you can attend a school outside of your district. The school is still free, but normally you provide transportation. Most schools have a limited number of openings. Students are selected based on a lottery system. Vocational Schools: Vocational schools are free public high schools that offer specific trade or career training programs. In the past, these programs focused on mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, and construction but now some schools offer other trades such as engineering, performing arts and nursing. WRITTEN BY CHERYL MAGUIRE What Type of School is Best For Your Teen?