Public School Choice

About Public School Choice

Not every public school student flourishes in a one-size-fits-all system. Public school choice matters because it allows educators and families to step outside traditional district structures and find programs that better fit students’ needs. In Massachusetts—where Pioneer cut its teeth—public school choice includes charter schools, vocational-technical schools, virtual schools, and interdistrict choice programs. 

Pioneer champions opportunities for all students to thrive. Our leadership in launching and strengthening charter schools, and decades of work expanding and improving vocational-technical and interdistrict choice programs, reflect a core belief: parents make the best choices for their children, and engaged families drive achievement. 

Today, charter schools serve 3.5 million students nationwide (7% of U.S. K–12 enrollment), with thousands on waitlists in Massachusetts. Students in vocational programming varies by state—and in Massachusetts they serve 55,000 students (or 17% of high schoolers), with thousands more on waitlists. In Massachusetts, interdistrict programs educate 20,000 students, and programs such as the Metropolitan Education Corporation (METCO) program also have thousands of students on waitlists. 

Pioneer’s public choice work seeks out innovation and best practices, sharing Massachusetts’ successes and learning from successful programs around the country.