schooltypes

School types refer to the categories used to classify educational institutions based on governance, funding, curriculum control, and student population. While classifications vary by country, several common categories recur internationally, including public, private, and publicly funded options with independent governance such as charter or magnet schools, as well as schools focused on specific outcomes like vocational training or religious instruction.

Public schools are funded and administered by government entities. They typically follow government-approved curricula and are open to all students without tuition, though local policies can influence class size, zoning, and resources.

Private schools operate with private governance and charge tuition. They may be religious or secular, offering a range of curricula and assessment approaches. Accreditation varies by country and program, affecting transferability and eligibility for higher education.

Charter and magnet schools are publicly funded but managed by independent organizations. Charter schools often have broader flexibility in teaching methods and admissions, while magnet schools emphasize specialized programs or themes and may seek to attract a diverse student body.

Other types include international schools serving expatriate communities, vocational or technical schools focusing on trades, special education or inclusive schools serving diverse learners, alternative schools for students needing nontraditional settings, and boarding or day schools. Homeschooling and online or virtual schools represent education outside or beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar model. Quality and legitimacy are generally supported by country-specific accreditation and regulatory frameworks.