More than half (59%) of U.S. parents who identify as Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) indicated that they considered new schools for at least one of the children in their household last year, according to a new survey released by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF).
The survey, of 585 AAPI parents, paints a picture of K–12 school choice as more than just a policy, but as an important personal decision that moms and dads make for their kids. This was evidenced, in part, by the fact that 61% of the AAPI community surveyed said that they had discussed schooling options with family and friends within just the previous month.
What is School Choice?
School choice refers to the process of parents selecting traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, home, and other non-traditional education options for their children. Over the past four years, more than half of U.S. states have enacted or improved policies that allow parents greater flexibility in choosing learning environments that meet their children’s needs.
School Search Trends
In the past year, 59% of AAPI parents considered, searched for, or chose a new or different school for their child, on par with the 60% of parents of all races who indicated that they considered new schools last year. However, of those, only 29% of AAPI parents enrolled their children in a new or different school.
“Comparing the numbers of AAPI parents who looked for versus ultimately chose a new school for their children tells us that about half of those who searched didn’t find what they were looking for. Whether that’s because local options don’t meet their criteria, or logistical hurdles ultimately prevented enrollment, it tells us that parents are far from complacent with their schooling options.”
– Shelby Doyle, vice president, National School Choice Awareness Foundation
AAPI families were more likely than their peers to opt for traditional public schools outside of their communities, polling at 20%. Comparatively, only 9.8 % of white parents, 11.7% of Black parents, and 9.6% of Hispanic and Latino parents said the same. However, compared to all other demographics, AAPI Parents were only about half as likely to choose a public charter school, at 11%. Among the rest of public sector options, 25% of AAPI families chose public schools within their neighborhood and 12% chose magnet schools.
“Open enrollment in public schools is a key part of the school choice picture, and AAPI parents are the most likely to explore this path. Public school choice remains a crucial policy for states and school districts to support if they want to meet the needs of all of the families they serve.”
– Shelby Doyle, vice president, National School Choice Awareness Foundation
AAPI parents who enrolled their children in new schools this past year were far less likely to take advantage of alternatives like micro-schooling and hybrid schooling, homeschooling, or full-time online schooling than their peers, choosing these options around 12% of the time. By comparison, Hispanic parents enrolled their children in one of these options over 21% of the time, and Black families did so over 20% of the time.
Looking Forward
School choice is a frequent topic of conversation in households with AAPI parents, with 60% of parents saying they have discussed schooling options with family and friends within the past month. Looking ahead, 46% of Black parents said they are likely to choose new schools for their children next year.
To view our survey on all U.S. parents, check out our January 2025 survey.
