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When weighing school options, many parents find themselves comparing a private school vs charter school in Ohio. Both offer alternatives to traditional public schools, but their missions, freedoms, and limitations are vastly different. At Royalmont Academy, a Catholic private school in Mason, we want to help you make the most informed decision for your child’s future.

One of the most common comparisons we hear is between private schools and charter schools. Both are alternatives to traditional public schools, but their foundations—and what they offer your child—are profoundly different. This blog will unpack the key distinctions and help you consider how Royalmont Academy might serve your family’s unique goals.

What is a Private School vs Charter School in Ohio?

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from the local school district. They are tuition-free, funded by the state, and typically offer alternative approaches to curriculum or instruction. Some focus on classical learning, STEM, or even moral development. For many families, they feel like a safer or more values-based option than their neighborhood school.

However, what’s not always clear is that charter schools, as public institutions, are bound by the same legal restrictions as any other public school. That means religious instruction is not allowed, prayer isn’t part of the day, and even something as simple as hanging a cross in a classroom is prohibited. For families seeking a deeply faith-formed education, that can be a surprising limitation.

How Are Private Schools Different?

Private schools operate independently of the state. They are funded through tuition, private donors, and—in the case of Catholic schools like Royalmont—supported by a broader faith community. This freedom allows for:

• Faith to be integrated throughout the entire school day

• A curriculum built not just on academic rigor but on virtue and mission

• Teachers who are hired not only for their credentials but their character and calling

• Class sizes that allow each child to be known, guided, and loved

At Royalmont Academy, we offer a Catholic private school experience rooted in the Regnum Christi tradition. We don’t just add faith on top—we build everything upon it. Whether it’s math class or morning announcements, the Gospel guides us. We call it integral formation—a holistic approach to developing your child intellectually, humanly, spiritually, and apostolically.

Do Charter Schools Offer Religious Education?

This is where many families are surprised. Even if a charter school has a classical or virtue-based curriculum, it cannot legally incorporate religious content. Even moral language must stay within the bounds of secular definitions.

Many well-intentioned educators have tried to create charter models that reflect traditional values. And some families feel drawn to these environments because they echo what they’re looking for: order, character, and excellence. But we believe that virtue finds its deepest roots in faith. When schools remove Jesus Christ from the center, the formation of the whole person can feel incomplete.

The Truth About Tuition and Scholarships

Private education often carries the assumption of high tuition—but that’s changing rapidly in Ohio. Thanks to the EdChoice Scholarship Program, thousands of families now attend Royalmont at no cost or with significant financial help. Our team walks every interested parent through the process.

Consider the true investment:

• Charter School: Free tuition, but no prayer, sacraments, or faith-based worldview.

• Royalmont Academy: Tuition (often fully covered), plus formation in truth, goodness, and beauty—anchored in Christ.

Why Some Traditional-Looking Schools Still Fall Short

We’ve spoken with families who enrolled in programs that looked and felt like Catholic schools—schools with Latin, uniforms, and a classical approach—but were surprised to find there was no spiritual formation. Teachers were not allowed to talk about God. Prayer wasn’t permitted. Even the basic language of the soul was off-limits.

These schools can be unintentionally confusing. From the outside, they resemble what many of us loved growing up in faith-filled classrooms. But the heart is missing. And when you remove the heart, virtue becomes theory—not transformation.

At Royalmont, we don’t teach virtue as an abstract concept. We teach it as a way of life. Anchored in our Catholic mission, our students learn that true leadership begins in love—of God and neighbor. That’s the difference.

It’s Not About Politics. It’s About the Person.

In today’s divided world, it’s easy to associate certain educational choices with certain political ideologies. But we encourage families to look deeper. At Royalmont, we are not forming partisans—we are forming saints. We believe every child is called to greatness, not because of a party platform, but because they are made in the image of God.

Our mission is to partner with you—to help your child become the person God made them to be, with clarity of purpose and strength of character.

Let Us Show You the Royalmont Difference

We know choosing a school is deeply personal. You’re thinking about your child’s future, their friends, their formation, and your family’s values. We’re here to walk that journey with you.

If your heart is longing for a school where faith is central, where your child will be known and loved, and where the classroom feels like an extension of your family’s mission—come visit Royalmont Academy.

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