We know that parents choose a particular microschool for their child for a variety of different reasons. As these findings from surveys of parents at 36 microschools around the country, from Measuring the Microschool Experience: A National Analysis published last month by the National Microschooling Center demonstrate, these reasons vary widely.
Small class sizes and individualized attention for their child were the two most prevalent reasons more than four out of five parents described. Providing a safe school environment for their child followed closely behind, which is certainly understandable considering the growth of the microschooling sector across communities around the country where questions concerning school safety have been covered prominently in local news outlets.
The same research asked parents to identify a single most important reason for choosing their child's microschool. As shown in Figure 2 below, individualized attention for their child was the top reason chosen, by one in three parents surveyed.
Once again, positive school culture, small class sizes and a safe school environment followed in order of prevalence.