Homeschool vs. Microschool vs. Co-op vs. Enrichment Classes vs. Charter School vs. Private School vs. Public School

Homeschool

• What it is: Parent-directed education at home, tailored to the child’s pace and interests.

• Pros: Flexible schedule, personalized curriculum, family bonding.

• Cons: Requires planning, legal compliance, and intentional social opportunities.

• Best For: Families seeking autonomy, values-based learning, or customized support.

Microschool

• What it is: Small, multi-age learning communities blending homeschool and classroom  elements.

• Pros: Low student-teacher ratio, flexible curriculum, strong community feel.  

• Cons: Tuition varies; accreditation and structure differ widely.

• Best For: Families wanting personalized learning with built-in peer interaction.  

Co-Op

• What it is: A cooperative learning group where homeschooling families come together to  share teaching responsibilities. Parents rotate leading classes or activities, pooling their  strengths.

• Pros: Builds strong community, lowers costs by sharing resources, offers group learning  and socialization.

• Cons: Requires parent commitment and coordination; quality depends on participating  families.

• Best For: Families who want the flexibility of homeschooling but also value shared  teaching, accountability, and community support.

Enrichment Classes

• What it is: Supplemental programs (art, STEM, music, nature, language, etc.). 

• Pros: Builds creativity and skills, flexible scheduling, complements any schooling  model.

• Cons: Not a full-time education; it may require travel or fees.

• Best For: Families wanting to deepen interests or fill gaps.

Charter School

• What it is: Publicly funded but independently run schools with unique missions.

• Pros: Free tuition, innovative approaches, often smaller class sizes.

• Cons: Admissions may be lottery-based; quality varies.

• Best For: Families seeking alternatives to traditional public school without tuition costs.

Private School

• What it is: Tuition-based institutions offering specialized or faith-based education • Pros: Strong academics, extracurriculars, and facilities.

• Cons: Costly; accessibility varies.

• Best For: Families prioritizing academic rigor, faith-based instruction, or structured  environments.

Public School

• What it is: Government-funded schools open to all children in a district. 

• Pros: Free, standardized curriculum, broad extracurriculars.

• Cons: Larger class sizes, less flexibility, quality varies by district.

• Best For: Families seeking convenience, community integration, and broad access to services.

How to Decide

Ask yourself:

• Do we want flexibility or structure?

• How much time and involvement can we commit as parents?

• Do we want to share teaching responsibilities with other families?

• What kind of social environment will help our child thrive?

• Is cost a major factor?

• Do we want a values-based or secular approach?

Remember: You may not be looking for homeschooling. A microschool, co-op, or charter  might be perfect for your family. Nevada offers a wide range of options; your job is to find the  one that helps your child thrive.