COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarships have made private school enrollment more accessible for Ohio students, particularly those from low-income families. However, the scholarships cannot be used at public schools, and some of the state’s highest-ranked public schools remain inaccessible due to loopholes in open enrollment laws.
Many top-rated public schools do not participate in open enrollment, making it difficult for students outside their boundaries to attend. This situation disproportionately affects middle- and low-income families, as home prices in these districts are often prohibitively high. While some public schools charge tuition for non-resident students, the fees can be as high as $11,000 per student per year, making them more expensive than private schools. This raises concerns about the accessibility of public education and the fairness of charging tuition for what are supposed to be public schools.
When Public Schools Keep Certain Students Out — or Make Them Pay to Attend
