The Ultimate Guide to Public Charter Schools

You’ve probably come across this ultimate guide to charter schools because you’re curious about public charter schools and whether they’d be a good fit for your son or daughter. Like millions of parents every year, you’re looking up schools near you to figure out what your options are and where your child will spend the next academic year. Talk about a big decision!

At Navigate School Choice, we strongly believe that parents are best equipped to make education decisions for their children, which is why we provide a guide to all school options, putting you in the driver’s seat. If charter schools make your shortlist, you’ll be in good company. Each year, millions of American families choose charter schools.

It is important that every child receives a quality education that suits their individual learning style. Public charter schools are a great way to ensure this. These schools are free, open to everyone, and provide a variety of options to meet the unique needs of each child.

We’ve put together this free starter guide that shares a charter school definition, answers your charter school questions, links to resources in your state, and more. Click on a button below to get started!

What do I need to know about public charter school choice?

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How to Switch to a Charter School

1. Explore your charter school options:

Your first step is to learn more about the charters located near you! You can use our free Schools Near Me tool to locate charter schools near your zip code or find your state below to learn about charters in your state. Each charter school has a different way of doing things, so you will need to find the best fit for your family! While charters still need to meet many of the public school regulations, they also have some freedom to decide how they want to run (the amount of freedom varies by state). Some charter schools are designed to meet the needs of specific populations of students (such as those interested in the arts or those with different learning styles) while others offer a specialized curriculum (Montessori, Classical curriculum, etc.). As you explore options, look for a school that will provide the individualized attention your child needs.

2. Connect:

Next, reach out to the charter school that you feel would be a good fit for your family to get more information. Enrollment in charter schools varies by state – some have a specific window for open enrollment while others allow you to enroll in the charter school at any time (provided there is space for your student). Public charter schools must accept all students, regardless of their academic performance or needs.

When you reach out to the school you are interested in, you can ask to take a tour of the building and learn more about what is expected of students. Ask questions that will help you learn if this is the right fit for your family. For example: What is your approach to education? What makes your school unique? What are your school’s academic expectations for students?

3. Fill out an application:

Once you have decided on the charter school that will meet the needs of your student, ask how you fill out an application for enrollment. The school will let you know if there is anything else you need to do besides the paperwork. If there are more applicants to a school than available seats, a charter school may hold a random lottery to decide which students get to attend.

4. Enroll and get started:

Once your application has been accepted, the school will provide you with information regarding what they need prior to you joining the school. Some good questions to ask are: How will my student’s records be transferred? Do I need to fill any paperwork out? What additional information do you need prior to the school year beginning? Also, be sure to let your previous school know that you will be transferring and ask them if there is anything you need to do on their end. As a parent/legal guardian, you can ask the school for a copy of your student’s educational record. If your student has any additional services, such as an intervention plan, Individualized Education Plan, 504 plan, or medical response plan, make sure that a copy of this information is sent to the new school as well.

Common Questions about Public Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that are created by school districts, colleges, nonprofit organizations, or other entities. These schools are allowed to determine many of their own policies and practices; the goal is to innovate within the public school system. Charter schools are always public schools and they are not allowed to charge tuition. The first law enabling charter schools was in 1991. Thirty years later, there are more than 7,800 charter schools in the U.S. serving about 7% of students nationwide.

Public charter schools receive public funds and must follow many of the same laws as traditional public schools. There are not currently any religious charter schools open to students. However, in June 2023, Oklahoma approved the nation’s first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which plans to open in 2024.

For the most part, all or most teachers in public charter schools must be certified or licensed by the state to teach. Each state has its own teacher certification or licensure policies; some states do allow for alternate pathways to certification.

Public charter schools do not charge tuition or entrance fees. As with other public schools, funding is paid by taxpayers in the form of local, state, and federal taxes. You can explore per-pupil spending for public schools, including charter schools, at Project Nickel.

In some cases, charter schools do not provide free transportation, so this may be worth asking about if you are considering a charter school.

Public charter schools are operated by organizations, which a vast majority of the time are nonprofit.

All charter schools are public schools, and are subject to the same Title I eligibility requirements as traditional public schools. If they meet the requirements, then they are eligible to receive Title 1 funding.

In many places, there are more families who want to attend charter schools than there are seats allowed by state law or capacity in opened schools. When this happens, schools use lotteries to select which students to enroll from their waitlist.

A typical charter school lottery is ‘blind,’ meaning that every student who signs up has an equal chance of getting in. However, some schools do give preference to returning students, students with siblings attending the school, or at-risk groups, if social justice is a core mission of the school.

Rising Interest in Public Charter School

Public charter schools have gained popularity across the nation this year, with 32% of parents searching for schools indicating that they have considered transferring their child to a public charter school. The number of students in charter schools has more than doubled in the last 10 years. In the 2023-2024 school year, charter schools saw an increase of 80,000 students, bringing the total number of students to over 3.7 million nationwide.

Charter School Choice in the United States

If you are curious about what options you have for charter schools, check out your state’s school choice guide or scroll below to learn about charter schools near you. 46 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws allowing for the creation of public charter schools.

Charter School Choice in Your State

Ready to explore your local school options? Use our free “Schools Near Me” tool to search through more than 131,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools.

Our tool enhances the information we offer on school choice options in your state. With this tool, you can access information on more than 132,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools across the United States. You’ll be able to view essential information about each school, such as its address, phone number, and website.

Use The Tool

The information in this ultimate guide to charter schools is designed to help families who are considering charter schooling in their decision-making process. Our mission is to provide families with the information they need about all the school options available – traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, and at home – so they can choose the right fit for their child. Read more guides about choosing other types of schools.