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Most Americans attend "public schools," or schools that are owned and "operated" (run) by the government. Public schools are open to anyone and are free, although students and their families often have to pay additional "fees" (money paid for a particular purpose), such as fees for participating in sports, drama, or music activities, or "lab" (laboratory; where science experiments are performed) fees, or expenses for "field trips" (excursions; outings; trips away from school).

Some Americans prefer to send their children to "private schools," which are owned and operated by businesses or "not-for-profit" (not intended for earning money) organizations. Families must pay "tuition" (money paid to study at a particular institution) to send their children to private schools, and this tuition is often very expensive. However, some families think the expense is "worth it" (with a value that is greater than the expense or inconvenience) because they believe their children receive a higher-quality education, or are in a safer environment. Many private schools are "affiliated with" (connected to) a church, and families send their children there so that they can receive a "religious upbringing" (education within the beliefs of a religion).

A "magnet school" is a school that focuses on a particular area, such as science, foreign languages, or the "performing arts" (drama and music). These schools attract students that want to specialize in a particular area, and sometimes they attract too many students. In those cases, there is often a "lottery," or a drawing to see which students will be invited to study at the school.

Finally, "charter schools" are schools that receive "public funding" (money from the government), but are run by a group of teachers, parents, or community groups and do not have to follow all of the rules of the city or state. Charter schools often have more freedom to teach what they want in the way they want to do it.