15 Jul Charter Schools 101
If you’ve heard the term “charter school” and aren’t quite sure what it means, you’re in good company. Many families researching high school options find themselves asking the same question. The answer is simpler — and more exciting — than you might expect. Even better, SET High, a small, public tuition-free charter high school in San Diego, is enrolling students now for the 2026-2027 school year, with the first day of school on August 10.
Charter Schools 101
A charter school is a publicly funded, independently operated public school. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are tuition-free and open to all students. What makes them different is the freedom and the flexibility to do things their own way.
Charter schools are typically founded by a team of educators and parents who see a gap in what’s available and build something designed to fill it. They operate under a charter — a document that outlines the school’s mission, educational program, and goals — and are held accountable for both academic results and responsible use of public funds.
In California, charters are granted by local school districts and may be renewed. Students can attend any charter school within their county of residence or an adjacent county, which means San Diego families have real options, regardless of zip code.
SET High founding member Dr. Neil McCurdy’s vision was simple: create a free, flexible, and personalized high school education where curiosity, inquiry, and real-world skills aren’t extras, they drive the school’s mission. Think of it like experiencing the benefits of private school without the price tag.
Why Families Choose Charter Schools
Charter schools exist to create meaningful choices within the public school system. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
A school built around a real philosophy. Every charter school has a distinct identity and families can find one that genuinely fits how their student thinks, learns, and grows. At SET High, that philosophy centers on student agency: the belief that when students have passion and autonomy in their education, real learning happens.
Teachers who chose to be there. Educators are often drawn to charter schools because they can teach with more creativity, less restriction, and alongside colleagues who share their passion. Foundational to SET High’s student success are faculty and staff that focus on building strong relationships with each student. At SET High, our 12:1 student-to-educator ratio means teachers know students by name, by interest, and by potential, not just by GPA.
A whole-student approach. Charter school families frequently find something that can be hard to put a price on: a school that cares about who their student is becoming, not just how they test score. Smaller class sizes and stronger relationships are hallmarks of charter school education. Here at SET we focus on students’ unique talents while providing individual support where help is needed. Combining this with a campus culture of inclusion and compassion, we view our role not only to educate students to achieve academic excellence, but to also help them find and develop into their best selves – scholastically and as engaged, global citizens.
What Makes SET High Different
At SET High, charter school freedom shows up in the details and in the big picture.
Students design their own learning journey. Students at SET High have a say in how their education takes shape. From personalized scheduling to student-led Passion Projects, learning here is driven by curiosity and owned by the student. There’s no ceiling on how far or advanced they can take it and our students find that academic freedom liberating.
Classes you won’t find anywhere else. SET teachers don’t just teach — they create. Electives like Into the Darkness: All Things Poe, Debunking Disney, Aerospace Engineering, The Wisdom of Star Wars, and Jiu Jitsu exist because our teachers are genuinely excited to share what they love. And because we run a flexible modified 4×4 block schedule, students have time to actually go deep. Check out all our courses here.
Real college credit, right now. Through our dual enrollment partnership with Mesa College, SET High students can take free college courses during the school day. It’s college prep that actually feels like college, without the pressure of AP testing.
A community of acceptance, not cliques. SET High’s campus culture is something families notice right away. Whether students find their people through CIF sports, clubs like Battle Bots, Film Production, SET Senate, or Ignite Peer Mentoring — or just in the hallway between classes — belonging here isn’t something you have to earn. It’s built in.
Three-time California Distinguished School. SET High has earned this recognition three times, a reflection of our commitment to academic excellence and what’s possible when students are truly engaged in their education.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a charter school means choosing a school built with intention and at SET High, that intention shows up every day in the classroom, in the community, and in the students who graduate ready for whatever comes next.
Tuition-free. Passion-driven. Built for you.
Ready to see what we mean? Visit sethigh.org to enroll for the 2026-2027 school year, or call (858) 874-4338 to schedule a tour or shadow day. First day of school is August 10 — we’d love to see you there!
About SET High
SET High offers each student individual attention from multi-talented, highly qualified teachers. Students at our three times awarded California Distinguished School build a healthy camaraderie with classmates inside an intellectually rigorous environment that brings out their talents and personality, helping them develop their individual character and direction in life. With a wide variety of electives, flexible scheduling, dual enrollment college classes and more — our students regularly exceed their academic and personal expectations. Enroll now. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Find us at www.sethigh.org.