Lopez Turley, Ruth2020-06-052021-08-012020-082020-05-26August 202Szabo, Julia C.C.. "Latinx Parents' Perceptions of Traditional Public Schools and Charter School Choice." (2020) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/108774">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/108774</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/108774This paper examines the experiences within and perceptions of traditional public schools that led Latinx parents to enroll their children in a charter school, Houston College Prep Charter (HCP Charter). Data include in-depth interviews with thirty-one families who have selected HCP Charter for their middle school aged children, participant observation at school events and parent association meetings, and school accountability data. Latinx parents view their selection of HCP Charter as a means to remove their children from the “risky” public-school environments available to them. This perception of risk is based on the experience of children and parents within public schools, as well as information gained from parents’ networks, media, and lived experiences. Decisions to enroll children in HCP Charter reflect the belief it is worth “trying out” charter schools, given the risk they associate with the traditional public-school options available to them.application/pdfengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.school choiceurban educationLatinx parentingThesis2020-06-05