Abstract
This project explores how parents choose between private, public, and charter schools. Recent years have seen an increase in charter schools, particularly in urban areas. This complicates parent decision making parents choose schools that are close to home and are predominantly of their own race (Kleitz, Weiher, Tedin, Matland, 2000). Previous research indicates that minority and low income homes have different preferences for schools than Whites and high income homes (Weiher, Tedin, 2002). This project was conducted through nine in-depth interviews with parents who have elementary aged children enrolled in charter, private or public schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict Theory, and Rational Choice Theory were used to help interpret the data. The five most prevalent themes that emerged from the data were, location, educational quality, safety, race, and prioritization of factors. The findings suggest that parents think they are making rational decisions by weighing out different factors. In truth, however, parental priorities are not often clear and are based in their prior experiences as well as word-of-mouth knowledge.
Advisor
Nurse, Anne
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Recommended Citation
McKinney, Najiyah J., "Parental School Choice: Public, Private, and Charter School Quality and Decision Making" (2015). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6606.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/6606
Disciplines
Other Education
Keywords
The College of Wooster, Senior IS
Publication Date
2015
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2015 Najiyah J. McKinney