To help you decide whether or not Freire is right for you, we have compiled questions most frequently asked of us and provided answers for your convenience below.

Q:            What is a charter school?

A: Charter schools are public schools that are operated independently by a group of community members.  With the exception of some federal laws, charter schools are free from the rules and bureaucracy of a large school district, and thus, the administration of a charter school can implement the policies and practices that it thinks are best for students.

 

Q:            Is a high school diploma from a charter school the same as one earned in a traditional school?

A:            Yes, a student graduating from Freire is indeed a high school graduate.   All over the United States, thousands of students have graduated from charter schools since they became popular educational alternatives in the 1990s.  In fact, to earn a diploma from Freire, a student has to take more classes than he or she would in many high schools.

 

Q:            Does Freire charge tuition?

A:            No, Freire is a public school, and thus, tuition-free.

 

Q:            Do students have to wear uniforms?

A:            No, Freire students do not have to wear uniforms.  It is against the values of our school philosophy to require students to compromise their individuality.  Students do have to dress appropriately, as defined in Freire’s Code of Conduct.

The Basics:

Why Freire?

Q:            How do I know if the Freire Charter School is right for me?

A: Well, reading all of the information on this website is a good first step!  Next, a tour of our school is always a wise decision.  But overall, questions you should ask yourself would be as follows: 

                (1)  Do I want to attend a small school?  (Freire has 440 students across grades 9-12)

                (2)  Do I want to attend school downtown?  (Freire is in Rittenhouse Square, a bustling 

                     commercial and residential section of Center City)

                (3)  Do I value individuality while at the same time see myself as part of a community?        

                     (This mentality is key to success at Freire)

                (4)  Do I intend to go to college?  (Freire expects every graduate to attend a 4-year  

                     college and ideally to continue his or her education beyond that)

                (5) Do I plan on doing lots of hard work?  (Freire requires an array of rigorous college

                      preparatory classes to graduate and top marks are expected in these classes)

                If you answered “yes” to all five questions, then Freire could be the right match for you!

 

Q:            Would attending the Freire Charter School hurt my child’s ability to get into the college of his or her choice?

A: No, in fact, attending Freire could actually help your child get into the college of his or her choice.  Admission officers at top colleges are always looking for students from high schools that are not a part of their usual “feeder” high schools because it creates more diversity on campus.  An admissions office at a top college or university is usually very reluctant to accept more than a handful of students from the same high school because it does not want a class full of students who all come with the same high school experiences.  Thus, by attending a high school unlike other college-prep schools in Philadelphia, your child is more likely to catch an admission officer’s attention here at Freire.  Take a look at the “College Counseling” section of our website for more information about college placement!

 

The Application:

Q:            Can I submit an application for any grade?

A:            While Freire serves students in grades 9 through 12, the bulk of accepted students come in grade 9.  Very few spots open up in the upper grades for new students to enter Freire.  Furthermore, a student applying for grades 10-12 must have earned enough credits in the appropriate college preparatory courses at his or her current school in order for a transfer to take place.

 

Q:            How soon will I hear if my son or daughter has been accepted to Freire?

A:            The Admissions Office will send you a postcard acknowledging that it has received your application and asking you for additional documents.  Once this information is received, your application is complete.  If you would like an answer by January 1st, please return all documents by December 15th so that you may be a part of the December admissions lottery.  All other applications will be a part of the March lottery, and students will be notified on or shortly after April 1^st as to whether they were selected in the lottery or not. 

 

Q:            Oops, I missed the March 1^st deadline.  Can I still submit an application?

A:            Yes, you may still submit an application.  However, all of the people who submitted the necessary documents by the deadline will have priority.  Since spots fill up quickly, you will most likely be placed on the waiting list.