Article
Choosing an alternative to public school
Four main options for Christian parents: a Christian school, a classical Christian school, home education and a hybrid. What each asks of you, and what to check before you choose.
By reformededucation.org · Written 2026-09-30
Start with the aim
An alternative to public school is only as good as what it teaches and who teaches it. Before choosing, write down what you want: sound doctrine, a real academic education, a godly community, the time to disciple your children yourselves, or all of these. Different options give different things.
The four main options
| Option | What it is | Often a good fit when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian school | A school run by a church or a group of Christian families, with Christian teachers. | Both parents work, or parents want a school community and teaching from others. | Doctrine differs between schools; some are only ‘Christian’ in name. Ask for the statement of faith and read it. Tuition can be high. |
| Classical Christian school | A Christian school that teaches the liberal arts, Latin, logic and rhetoric and the great books. | Parents value a demanding, book-centred education with a Christian frame. | Schools range from Reformed to broadly evangelical. Membership in an association is not a guarantee of your church’s doctrine. |
| Home education | Parents teach, using curriculum chosen for their family. | A parent can be at home, and the family wants to teach the faith and the school day together. | It asks a great deal of one parent’s time and patience. Legal requirements vary by state and country, so check your own. |
| Hybrid or co-op | Children attend school or a co-op for some days and learn at home on others, or families teach one another’s children. | A family wants help with teaching but keeps the home as the centre. | Needs commitment from several families and a clear statement of what is taught. |
Questions to ask any school or curriculum
- What is its statement of faith, and which church or churches stand behind it?
- Who teaches, and are the teachers professing Christians who are members of a church?
- How does it teach history, science and literature? Ask to see the books.
- How does it handle discipline, and how are parents kept involved?
- What does it cost, and what help does it give to families who cannot pay? Do not assume costs; ask for current figures.
- If it is a homeschool curriculum, does it fit the number of children and the time you have?
Finding them on this site
Reformed Education lists schools, school associations, curricula and teacher-training groups, and gives the doctrinal basis and points to weigh for each. Some are Reformed and some are not, and each entry says which. Start with the Education topic, then open ‘Christian Schools’ or ‘Home Education’. Where a detail is unknown the page says so, and you should confirm details with the school itself.
Whichever you choose
No school or curriculum can do the work that belongs to parents. Family worship, catechism, church and time at home are what make any of these options Christian. See ‘Parents cannot farm out their children’ on this site.
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Sources
Written for this site as a practical guide. It makes general observations and does not rate or recommend any single school. Confirm details with each school or curriculum provider.