Guest Essay: Charter school changed my son's life

There is so much misinformation about charter schools, and competing agendas seem to drive the conversation. The fact is public charter school enrollment is on the rise. Many families, including mine, are choosing charter schools as an attractive alternative to a traditional public education. 

My son, Jorge, recently graduated from Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS), a local, tuition-free, public charter school. The day he enrolled in seventh grade was the beginning of a life changing experience for our entire family.

The staff set a higher standard of excellence than any school I’ve ever experienced. When Jorge enrolled, he was a shy boy who had no idea what the future held for him. We were immediately treated like family. Administrators, faculty and staff took the time to get to know each member of our family through school meetings and at-home visits. We shared our goals for Jorge, and the school worked diligently with us to help make those dreams a reality. There was no doubt this was where he belonged.

Over the years, we watched Jorge grow into the confident young man he is today. RACS was dedicated to identifying his strengths and setting him on the successful path to a college education. But, the school went much further. Not only did Jorge get accepted to his college of choice, but he obtained a full scholarship including tuition, room and board. It is rare to see this level of commitment from a school to help each child succeed. 

Graduation in June was an emotional day for our family. The pride we felt for Jorge was combined with gratitude to his school for helping him to reach this important milestone. The graduation keynoter, New York state Board of Regents member Wade Norwood, gave an inspiring speech about just how special the school truly is. I was struck by his heartfelt words about the school and what sets it apart. 

His words validated our choice. Jorge is currently in a summer program at RIT, where he will begin his next chapter this fall. Our son’s positive outcome is the direct result of the choice we made to consider a charter school alternative. If we hadn’t kept an open mind, the outcome might not have been as positive. When it comes to education, it’s important to do your homework and separate fact from fiction to discover the option that’s best for your child.

Jorge Soto Sr. is a resident of Rochester