6 Types of Alternative Schools in the USA

Wondering if an alternative school is the right fit for your child? Here are some common reasons families make the switch:

• Your child needs a more tailored academic approach to their education. Often traditional public schools are forced to “teach to the middle.” This is where instruction is aimed at targeting an “average student.” But more and more, this approach is seen as flawed. It doesn’t work for students with learning differences (such as ADHD or dyslexia), it doesn’t work with gifted students, and it doesn’t work with students who will benefit from differentiated instruction (where a teacher adapts the instruction toward the student).

• Your child is struggling to fit in socially. Traditional schools tend to have a large student body. This can be overwhelming for students both in the classrooms (where they may shut down due to anxiety or the overwhelming external stimuli) and in the social areas of a campus, like the library, study areas, and cafeteria. A school is meant to help develop students academically and socially. Often if a school isn’t a good fit socially, it’s not going to work academically.

• Your child needs more flexibility in their class scheduling. This could be to help balance school with athletics, art programs, travel, or occupational therapy. They may also need the option to start a program mid-year to better fit their needs.

To help you understand other options available to you, we’re going to first address what exactly constitutes an alternative school. It’s a broad term with no set definition, so it’s best to look at examples — which is why we also include 6 types of alternative schools.

Types of Alternative Schools

1. Fusion Academy
2. Montessori Schools
3. Residential Treatment
4. Waldorf Schools
5. Charter Schools
6. Reggio Emilia Schools

1. Fusion Academy: Personalized Learning

Fusion Academy is an alternative school that offers 1-to-1 classes — a stark contrast to the typical 20–30 student classrooms found in most traditional U.S. schools.

The 1-to-1 format maximizes the amount of attention that each student receives, and allows teachers to customize each lesson to a student’s individual needs. This has numerous advantages, which we’ll explain in detail in the next section.

Fusion is fully accredited by Cognia and offers 80+ campuses in states across the country, including California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

We also offer online enrollment through Fusion Global, where students can take classes virtually, while still getting the benefits of a one-to-one, personalized education.

Classes and Scheduling Geared Toward Your Family’s Unique Needs

When you arrive at Fusion, you’ll have a conversation with the Head of School to understand your child’s unique situation and needs. For example, we might find out that your child really enjoys reading and writing, but struggles in math. You tell us that their struggles with math negatively impact their confidence and cause them to shut down in classes, which also affects their social life at school.

This conversation gives us information to put together an education plan for your child that’s personalized to their specific situation.

All students can benefit from this approach, but we’ve found that it’s particularly helpful for:

• Students with learning differences, including ADHD, dyslexia, sensory processing disorder, or anxiety.
• Students who struggle socially in larger classes, whether they’re struggling because they’re overwhelmed with large groups or they’re so socially active that they can’t focus in a traditional classroom.
• Gifted students, as with a one-to-one model we can better customize the learning plan to the gifted student’s ability and interest level.

Families who need a flexible schedule also often find that Fusion’s approach is a preferable alternative to a regular Monday-Friday, 7:30–3:00 school structure. For example:

• If afternoon classes are better for the student, we can create a schedule where most of their classes take place in the afternoon or later.
• We can create a schedule that works with their extracurricular activities, such as athletics or art programs.
• You can start a course mid-way through a semester, instead of waiting until the next school year to start. This is also beneficial for students at Fusion as they can move onto the next appropriate level in a curriculum without having to wait for next semester.

Support for Students Who Have Fallen Behind Grade Level

Another group of students who thrive in an alternative learning environment are those who have fallen behind a grade level. In traditional schools, struggling with literacy or math can be especially difficult, as these foundational skills impact all areas of learning. This can lead to frustration, anxiety, and even school-related depression — sometimes to the point where students consider dropping out.

Fusion offers dedicated remedial classes in both literacy and math. For example:

• Reading Skills and Strategies is a reading solution that combines online learning on a platform called Lexia with direct instruction from a teacher. It’s suitable for students in the 40th reading percentile or lower, and is able to adapt to their particular level in a way that uses software to engage the student’s imagination. We offer students at Fusion MAP testing, which helps us identify which percentile they’re in.
• Structured Literacy is a literacy program that’s aimed at highly dyslexic students, which includes those in the 15th reading percentile or lower. It uses a range of multi-sensory techniques to teach students how to recognize words and the sounds of letters, including knocking sounds and gel boards.
• Fusion also has a remedial math program that’s suitable for students with a 4th-grade level of math or higher. The program combines self-study on software called ALEKS with direct instruction from a teacher. In this way, the student can work on problems alone or with their teacher, and has someone to turn to when they get stuck. Here’s what ALEKS looks like:

Beyond this, Fusion also offers private tutoring in hundreds of different subjects, including Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, and Study Skills. Again, private tutoring is delivered 1-to-1, so the lesson can be geared 100% toward the needs of your child.

Families with children who have fallen behind grade level sometimes find it beneficial to have their children attend one of these programs during the summer, or after school. This allows students to catch up with their peers in whatever subject they’re struggling with.

Post-Secondary Counseling for College and Alternatives to College

Students seeking an alternative education path don’t always follow the traditional route from high school to university. They may start at a community college, pursue vocational training, join the military, or gain hands-on experience through an internship program.

We offer a range of post-secondary counseling services tailored to each student’s academic journey and future goals.

Our counselors often help students with:

• Post-secondary planning
• Resume creation and building
• Course selection
• College prep timeline review
• SAT/ACT testing timeline review
• Practice SAT/ACT test support
• Help with applying for scholarships and financial aid
• Help with reviewing and completing college applications
• College admissions interview preparation

For students who are interested in “non-traditional paths,” our counselors can advise on:

• Gap years: There are many programs a student can find across the country, including programs that focus on animal welfare, conservation, language studies, coding, cultural immersion, and more. Our advisors can help you find a program that relates to your interest, and also helps progress your academic career and personal development.
• Vocational schools: These are programs such as cosmetology, culinary arts, carpentry, medical assisting, HVAC, and hotel management.
• Military service: Our counselors can help students understand the process of enlisting in a specific military branch. This includes eligibility and testing requirements, meeting with recruiters, boot camp, job specialities, and officer training.
• Transition plans: Transitional programs are community-based and support students as they shift from the role of a student to that of an independent adult. These can be great options for students who need more continued support after high school.

Designated Spaces for Social-Emotional Learning

In a traditional school, teachers see so many students every day that it’s hard for them to stay on top of their academic duties, let alone support individual students socially.

At an alternative school like Fusion, teachers are trained to foster meaningful connections between students. For example, if they notice a student sitting alone, they will encourage them to join a group with shared interests. Each lesson also begins with a check-in to help students recognize their feelings and address their emotional needs before diving into learning.

Unlike most schools, Fusion students rarely take schoolwork home. Instead, they complete class assignments in the quiet Homework Cafe, a dedicated space designed to foster focus and productivity.

Fusion campuses also feature a second Homework Cafe dedicated to social activities. This community space gives students a place to relax, connect, and explore their interests. From DnD and Model United Nations to yoga, film, and photography clubs, there’s something for everyone — no matter how unique their passions may be.

To learn more about Fusion, you can:

• Take a virtual tour of one of our campuses
• Learn about admissions and enrollment
• See our current pricing for middle and high school
• Request more information

2. Montessori Schools

Montessori schools get their name from the alternative education principles that were developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. The Montessori approach is based on the idea that children learn best in learning environments that are self-directed and hands-on.

Children are encouraged to explore subjects they’re interested in at their own pace and are responsible for choosing their activities from a range of prepared materials. Rather than setting a fixed curriculum, teachers act as guides and facilitators. There are no grades or tests. Instead, teachers track students’ progress through observational assessments.

Montessori classrooms are generally full of interesting objects and experiences to engage the students. This is by design, since Montessori emphasizes the value of learning through experiences and manipulating objects. Classrooms also group children of different ages together, so perhaps 3–6, 6–9 and 9–12. This fosters peer learning, collaboration and leadership skills. Very often, older children help younger ones — reinforcing their own learning in the process.

Montessori schools are available in almost every state, and especially in more urban areas. Many are privately operated, but there are also over 500 public Montessori schools across the country.

3. Residential Treatment Programs

Residential Treatment Programs (RTPs) are specialized therapeutic programs designed to provide 24-hour support for students with severe emotional or behavioral issues. Focusing primarily on therapy, not education, these schools are an option for students who are at risk of harming themselves or others, and who require more intensive support than a traditional school or counseling service can provide.

Students generally live at the residential facility full-time. While on site, their routine is highly structured, with set times for meals, therapy sessions, educational activities, recreation, and relaxation. This structure helps provide stability for individuals who may be struggling with impulsivity or lack of self-control.

RTPs employ a range of professionals, including teachers, therapists, counselors, social workers and medical staff. Together, they put together a multidisciplinary treatment plan for each student that’s customized to their specific situation. Often, this focuses on improving emotional regulation and self-sufficiency, but it can also cross into developing broader life skills like communication, problem-solving, and building healthy relationships.

RTPs can be found throughout the U.S., with a particularly large number of them being based in Utah.

4. Waldorf Schools

Waldorf schools (sometimes called Steiner schools) are based on the teaching philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian educator. A Waldorf education aims to nurture the whole child, using a holistic approach that honors body, mind, and spirit at the same time.

In terms of academics, Waldorf schools rarely have a fixed curriculum, although they do incorporate some academic subjects like history, geography, science, and math. Instead, the focus is on students being able to explore their own interests. There are no tests; instead, teachers assess students through observation, portfolios, and more informal assessments.

While Waldorf schools are generally non-sectarian, they do incorporate a spiritual perspective in their curricula. Stories, legends, and fairy tales are often used to teach ethical lessons, and there’s a focus on developing a strong sense of compassion, responsibility, and justice. Steiner schools also place a strong emphasis on imagination, arts, and creativity.

On the physical side, Steiner schools are some of the only schools that teach “movement” as a subject, and use it as a tool for exploring academic subjects like maths and languages. Children are also strongly encouraged to engage in physical play as a means of cognitive and emotional development. And, Steiner classrooms are generally much less technology-driven than traditional schools, which encourages children to stay physically present.

There are 157 Waldorf schools across the U.S. Most of these are private schools, but there are also public Steiner school programs in Michigan and Wisconsin.

5. Charter Schools

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate under a charter (a type of contract) with their state education authority. They’re designed to provide an alternative to traditional public schools by offering more flexibility in terms of the curriculum, teaching methods, and overall school management. In exchange for this flexibility, charter schools are held accountable for meeting specific performance goals outlined in their charter.

Charter schools often have a unique educational approach, which can include innovative teaching methods, specialized curricula, or a specific focus such as STEM, arts, or college preparation. Their charter also gives them more control over school policies and staffing than regular schools. That being said, they still need to follow state laws concerning special education and standardized testing.

As of 2022, there were 7,800 charter schools across the U.S., particularly in California, Arizona and Michigan. That might sound like a lot, but competition to get a place can be fierce in some school districts. Sometimes, charter schools have lottery systems if there are more applicants than available spots.

6. Reggio Emilia Schools

Reggio Emilia schools are named after the Italian town where this philosophy of preschool and primary education was developed.

A Reggio Emilia, education is based on the philosophy of “one hundred languages,” meaning that each child has a unique way of learning and expressing itself, whether through art, music, dance, play, or spoken language. Educators at these schools believe that students should have access to endless opportunities to express themselves as they wish, and in doing so exert a level of control over their learning.

To help with this, a great amount of time and thought is put into assembling a wholesome classroom environment in Reggio Emilia schools. Typically, the space is full of materials, tools, books, and other resources to stimulate children’s imagination. The school setting in Reggio Emilia is of such importance that these schools think of the classroom as the “third teacher.” The more that children can touch things, move them around, or observe them, the better.

Teachers in Reggio Emilia schools serve as facilitators and even co-learners, rather than traditional instructors. They observe and document children’s learning, using their notes to inform future teaching strategies and communicate the children’s progress to families. There is a strong emphasis on collaboration, not only between students, but also between teachers and parents. Parents are seen as vital partners in the educational process and are regularly involved in the school community.

There are dozens of Reggio Emilia preschools and elementary schools across 28 states.

Discover an Alternative Education That Suits Your Child’s Unique Needs

While all the schools we mentioned focus more on individualized learning than traditional schools, Fusion stands out by offering 1-to-1 classes. This personalized approach enables us to address both educational and social-emotional needs in a way that most schools simply can’t match.

Would you like to learn more about a Fusion education? Reach out to us today.