Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Specialized educational centers (often part of public high schools or regional programs) focused on vocational and technical training. CTE centers offer hands-on courses in trades, technology, healthcare, and other career fields, allowing students (usually in grades 9–12) to gain practical skills and certifications. In New Hampshire, high school students can attend regional Career & Technical Centers to prepare for careers or further technical education.
Charter Schools
Charter schools are tuition-free and open to all students in New Hampshire. They often have specialized curricula or educational approaches and greater flexibility in hiring and teaching methods than district public schools. They are taxpayer-funded, and are managed by an appointed (not elected) board. Read more at the Department of Education
Classical Education
An approach to learning that emphasizes the development of wisdom, virtue, and the ability to think critically. It teaches students how to learn through the study of the liberal arts and the great books, rather than simply memorizing facts. This approach aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals with strong moral character and a lifelong love of learning.
Competency-Based Learning
An educational approach that focuses on demonstrating mastery of specific skills and knowledge, rather than traditional measures like time spent in class or letter grades, in order to progress.
Dual Enrollment
Students enrolled in a public school can take courses at a community college and get high school credit for them. They can work toward a college degree at the same time they get a high school diploma. It works well for high performing students. Read More
Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs)
A New Hampshire program that provides families with state education funding to pursue alternative educational opportunities outside the public school system. Families can use these funds for approved expenses such as private school tuition, homeschool curricula, online courses, or tutoring. They follow the rules of RSA 194-F. View a comparison of requirements for Independent Home Education and EFAs. Apply at the Children’s Scholarship Fund of New Hampshire.
Education Tax Credit Scholarships (ETC)
Education Tax Credit scholarships allow New Hampshire students who are struggling in their current public school to attend a private school, online school, or homeschool to provide a better fit for them and their learning needs. Families can use ETC scholarships to attend out-of-district public schools. Apply at the Children’s Scholarship Fund of New Hampshire
Extended-Learning Opportunities
Extended Learning Opportunities allow students to learn outside of the traditional classroom. These include independent study, private instruction, performing groups, internships, community service, apprenticeships, and online courses. Students can get credit for these in their public school with the permission of the school district. Read More
GED/HiSET (High School Equivalency Test)
New Hampshire offers both nationally recognized high school equivalency tests, the HiSET Exam or the GED Exam, as options to earn a NH High School Equivalency Certificate. Read More
Homeschool Groups
Online and face-to-face groups for people to plan activities, discuss home education, find online and other resources, and get support from others. These groups are usually on Facebook, but there are websites and emails, too.
Homeschool Activities
Homeschool activities can include field trips, group classes, athletics, art or science clubs, and other enrichment programs that bring home-educated students together. They are often organized by local co-ops, community groups, museums, libraries, or recreation centers to complement learning at home.
Homeschool Co-ops
Groups of homeschooling families who meet regularly to share resources and teach each other’s children in group settings. In a homeschool co-op, parents might take turns leading classes or activities in subjects like science, art, or literature for the group’s children, or they may pool funds to hire instructors for advanced topics.
Independent Home Education
An education method in which parents or guardians educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. Homeschooling allows for a customized curriculum, flexible schedule, and instruction tailored to a child’s needs and interests. In New Hampshire, homeschooling requires parents to follow certain notification and assessment guidelines. Families have considerable freedom in choosing how and what their children learn. They follow the rules in RSA 193-A. View a comparison of requirements for Independent Home Education and EFAs.
Learning Centers
Also called micro schools, learning clubs, learning coops, and learning pods. Learning centers can take various forms – they might be drop-off centers where students go for part of the day to learn specific subjects or skills, microschool-like programs that operate full-time with small enrollment, or tutoring and enrichment hubs. These centers provide a more flexible or specialized environment for learning, often catering to families seeking alternatives to traditional schools. EdOpt supports families and aspiring education entrepreneurs to set up a Learning Center or Micro School.
Learn Everywhere
A New Hampshire Department of Education program that allows high school students to earn academic credit for learning experiences outside of the traditional school setting. The Learn Everywhere program certifies certain extracurricular programs, private courses, or real-world learning opportunities (e.g. classes from community organizations, internships, apprenticeships). Credit from these programs can count toward public high school graduation. Read More
Literacy-First
The idea is that foundational literacy skills are critical for a child’s overall academic success and is made the primary focus of early education. Working one-on-one, they help K-2 students build core reading skills like phonemic awareness and letter-sound identification, ensuring they learn to read by the end of second grade. This approach prioritizes literacy as the essential building block for all other learning.
Magnet Schools
Magnet Schools are public schools that offer specialized programs not available in traditional district public schools. They generally give preference to students in the districts in which these schools are located. There is no tuition for attendees.
Montessori
This method emphasizes self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. Montessori schools aim to foster independence, creativity, and a love of learning in children.
NH Career Academy
An innovative partnership between the New Hampshire Department of Education and Community College System of New Hampshire, giving students a chance to earn a high school diploma, an Associate’s Degree, a professional certification, and a job interview at no cost to the family and no additional cost to taxpayers. Read More
Online Schools
A school or program where instruction is delivered primarily over the internet, allowing students to learn from home (or anywhere with an internet connection). Online schools can be public (tuition-free for state residents) or private, and students in fully online programs complete most or all of their coursework remotely via a computer. These programs often provide digital curricula, virtual teacher support, and flexibility in pacing. New Hampshire’s VLACS, a statewide online chartered public school, offers courses to students anywhere in the state.
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment Schools are traditional public schools that allow parents to choose them instead of their district schools. There is no tuition for attendees.
Preschools
Early childhood education programs for young children, typically ages 3 to 5. Preschools focus on developing basic skills (social, emotional, motor, and early academic concepts) in a play-based or structured environment suitable for early learners. They can be part of public school systems, stand-alone private schools, or run by religious and community organizations.
Private Schools
A school that is owned and operated by a private entity—such as an independent board, religious institution, or for-profit organization. Private schools charge tuition for attendance. They have the freedom to design their own curriculum and school policies, though they must meet state education regulations. They may have a particular educational philosophy (e.g. Montessori, Waldorf), religious affiliation, or specialized focus (arts, STEM, etc.). EFAs and other scholarships may be used.
Project-Based Learning
An educational approach where students learn by actively engaging in real-world, complex problems over an extended period. Instead of passively receiving information, students investigate, research, and create solutions.
Public Schools
A school that is funded through state and local taxes and operated by a school district or chartering authority. Public schools are open to all children in a community free of charge. They adhere to state education standards and regulations.
Special Education
Instruction and services designed to support students with disabilities or special learning needs. Typically provided by the public school district, these programs tailor the educational experience to a child’s individual needs. The programs may include modified curricula, different instructional techniques, assistive technology, therapy services, or accommodations in the classroom. Many homeschool families successfully attend to special needs on their own.
Town Tuitioning
About 30 towns in New Hampshire are eligible for town tuitioning. These towns do not provide all K-12 grades for students and are not part of a cooperative or regional district. The law allows these districts to send students to private and religious schools, and to put a cap on how much tuition they will pay. Ask your local school board to allow your preferred private school to be included in their tuitioning program.
Waldorf
This method emphasizes a developmentally appropriate, experiential, and academically rich curriculum, integrating the arts into all subjects from preschool through twelfth grade. Waldorf schools aim to cultivate a love of learning, foster a child’s intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual development, and nurture well-rounded individuals with strong social skills and a sense of community.
Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning allows students to gain knowledge and skills in a real-world employment environment. This will deepen their learning and allow them to explore careers in an authentic setting. Read More