🤷What If You Don’t Get a Voucher?
Free and Low-Cost School Options for Texas Families
Let’s be honest—not every family will get a voucher. There are limited spots, unclear rules, and high demand.
But even without a voucher, you still have options. Below is a list of free or low-cost school alternatives to help you find the best learning environment for your child—based on your needs, values, and goals.
🏫 1. Public Charter Schools
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that operate independently from traditional school districts. That means they may have different teaching styles, academic focuses, or school models—but they’re still open to the public.
They’re often founded by educators, parents, or community groups.
Every charter school has its own mission—some may focus on college prep, dual language learning, or career and technical education.
👉 Explore Texas charter schools here: Texas Charter School Directory (select “Charter” under “District Type”)
🎠2. Magnet Schools
Magnet schools are free public schools that focus on a specific theme or subject—like medical science, engineering, the arts, or STEM. Some are affiliated with colleges and universities (like Baylor College of Medicine), and many offer a more focused learning experience based on your child’s interests.
These schools usually require an application and may have academic or interest-based criteria.
👉 Learn more and find magnet schools at: MySchoolChoice.com
🏡 3. Homeschooling
Homeschooling means that you, the parent, are in charge of your child’s education. You create the schedule, pick the curriculum, and guide the learning.
There are free homeschool curriculums available, like Discovery K12, and a growing number of support groups and co-ops across Texas.
✳️ Good to Know: In Texas, homeschooling is legal and doesn’t require state approval—but you must follow a few guidelines.
👉 Find everything you need to get started at: Texas Home School Coalition (THSC)
đź’» 4. Online Public Schools
Online public schools are free and run by the state, just like regular public schools—except everything is done virtually. These schools are not the same as homeschooling because the school provides the teachers, curriculum, and grading.
This is a great option if your child needs a flexible schedule or prefers online learning, but you still want support from licensed teachers.
Popular options include:
Texas Connections Academy
Texas Tech K-12 Public School Program
👉 You can also explore more virtual school options on THSC.org
🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏽 5. Microlearning Communities
Microlearning is a newer, creative way to educate. It involves small groups of students learning together with adult supervision—often in flexible spaces like homes, libraries, or community centers.
Some families use microlearning as a hybrid approach:
→ Their child attends public school part-time and joins a homeschool-style pod for the rest of the week.
It can look very different depending on your community. What matters is that it’s personalized, social, and community-driven.
👉 Learn more about microlearning at: MySchoolChoice.com (search “microlearning”)
đź’ˇ Final Thoughts
Even if a voucher isn’t in the cards, you still have the power to choose.
Texas offers more school options than most families realize—and we’re here to help you explore every one of them.
