Charter schools in Arizona
549 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 227,182 students in 2024-25.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Charter schools by town
Each town page lists its own charter schools and the others within 15 miles.
- Phoenix (150)
- Tucson (74)
- Mesa (46)
- Gilbert (22)
- Glendale (22)
- Chandler (17)
- Peoria (16)
- Tempe (15)
- Surprise (13)
- Scottsdale (12)
- Queen Creek (10)
- Flagstaff (9)
- Goodyear (9)
- Avondale (8)
- Buckeye (8)
- Yuma (8)
- Casa Grande (6)
- Douglas (6)
- Maricopa (6)
- Prescott (6)
- Prescott Valley (6)
- San Tan Valley (6)
- Sierra Vista (6)
- Apache Junction (5)
- Bullhead City (4)
- Coolidge (4)
- Kingman (4)
- Laveen (4)
- Nogales (4)
- Oro Valley (4)
- Cottonwood (3)
- Lake Havasu City (3)
- Show Low (3)
- Fort Mohave (2)
- Globe (2)
- San Luis (2)
- Bapchule (1)
- Chino Valley (1)
- Cornville (1)
- Florence (1)
- Litchfield Park (1)
- Marana (1)
- Mohave Valley (1)
- Paradise Valley (1)
- Sahuarita (1)
- Sedona (1)
- Somerton (1)
- Taylor (1)
- Tolleson (1)
- Youngtown (1)
Online charter schools in Arizona (41)
These schools told the federal survey that most or all of their teaching is online (2024-25). Their address is an office; ask each one which parts of Arizona it enrolls from.
Other charter schools in Arizona (9)
Schools in towns without a page of their own, by town.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Town | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School | K-8 | 81 | 10.1 | Amado | (520) 398-0536 |
| Masada Charter School | PK-9 | 522 | 18.3 | Colorado City | (928) 875-2525 |
| Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy | K-8 | 181 | 15.1 | Page | (928) 813-8422 |
| Patagonia Montessori School | K-8 | 33 | Patagonia | (520) 394-9530 | |
| Paulden Community School | K-8 | 81 | 11.6 | Paulden | (928) 910-4425 |
| Discovery Plus Academy | K-5 | 119 | 14.9 | Pima | (928) 485-2498 |
| Triumphant Learning Center | K-8 | 101 | 8.4 | Safford | (928) 348-8422 |
| Shonto Preparatory Technology High School | 9-12 | 57 | 10.9 | Shonto | (928) 672-3520 |
| Heritage Elementary - Williams | K-8 | 52 | 8.7 | Williams | (928) 635-3998 |
Who runs and charters them
Networks and districts with the most charter schools in Arizona: American Leadership Academy Inc. (4348) (15), ASU Preparatory Academy (91303) (8), Ombudsman Educational Services Ltd.a subsidiary (4323) (8), Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc. (91958) (7), Leman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730) (7), ThrivePoint High School Inc. (79059) (7), Academy of Mathematics and Science South Inc. (90878) (6), Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. ( (4431) (6).
Charter authorizers named most often: Charter Board (CSB) (547), Arizona State University - Main (2).
Names as the state reported them to the federal directory (2025-26).
Charter schools: how they work
- Public and free. NCES describes a public charter school as a publicly funded school, usually run by a group or organization under a contract (the charter) with the state, the district or another body. The federal definition says a charter school does not charge tuition.
- Families choose it. Under the same definition, a charter school is one parents choose to send their children to, and it admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for.
- Its own rules, its own accountability. The charter frees the school from some state or local rules; in return it must meet the standards written in its charter. It is nonsectarian.
- No program badge. ChoiceFunded’s program badges and “schools that accept” lists cover private schools only. Charter schools are listed separately here, with no badge, and are never counted with private schools.
Sources: 20 U.S.C. 7221i (federal Charter Schools Program definitions); NCES, Condition of Education: Public Charter School Enrollment. Each state writes its own charter law, so ask the school how enrollment works there.
- Private schools in Arizona (listed separately)
- What Arizona pays toward private school
- Charter schools in every state
- Arizona next to other states: charter and private school choice
School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.