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Charter schools in Jacksonville, AR

2 schools in Jacksonville, 20 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Jacksonville charter schools at a glance

2 public charter schools give Jacksonville as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 20 more are within 15 miles. The 2 in town had about 270 students in 2024-25. 1 teach elementary grades and 1 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

270 students, 2024-25
1 high schools
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools (3), Estem Public Charter School (3), Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas (3), LISA Academy (3), Premier High Schools of Arkansas (3). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Jacksonville (2)

Largest first. Enrollment and teachers are from 2024-25; schools new in 2025-26 have no count yet.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Phone
Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary K-4 210 15 (501) 985-1200
Jacksonville Lighthouse High School 9-12 60 10.9 (501) 985-1228

Nearby, within 15 miles (20)

Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Miles Phone
Jacksonville Lighthouse Middle School 5-8 156 9.4 Little Rock 1 (501) 988-1085
LISA Academy North High School 9-12 292 11.1 North Little Rock 7 (501) 945-2727
LISA Academy North Middle School 6-8 353 16.1 North Little Rock 7 (501) 945-2727
LISA Academy North Elementary School K-5 654 21.2 Sherwood 7 (501) 945-2727
Cabot Panther Academy 5-12 318 10.7 Cabot 7 (501) 743-3520
North Little Rock Center of Excellence 9-12 472 14.6 North Little Rock 10 (501) 975-3895
Premier High School of North Little Rock 9-12 76 27.6 Little Rock 11 (501) 333-9541
Friendship Aspire Academy North Little Rock Elementary K-3 62 10.2 Pine Bluff 11 (501) 301-4400
Estem Junior High Public Charter School 7-8 401 13.4 Little Rock 12 (501) 748-9335
Estem High School 9-12 676 9.8 Little Rock 12 (501) 478-2800
Estem Elementary School K-6 672 15.3 Little Rock 12 (501) 748-9200
Scott Charter School K-12 207 10.1 Scott 12 (501) 961-1744
Westwind School for Performing Arts School 6-8 86 7.8 North Little Rock 13 (501) 621-5300
Premier High School Online 9-12 292 22.2 Little Rock 13 (479) 282-9971
Premier High School of Little Rock 9-12 78 5.6 Little Rock 13 (501) 246-3161
Maumelle Charter High School 8-12 508 13.9 North Little Rock 14 (501) 427-4100
Ivy Hill Preparatory Academy K-8 306 14 Little Rock 14 (501) 404-0012
Vilonia Pathways Academy 12 69 11.8 Vilonia 14 (501) 796-2113
Friendship Academy Little Rock Elementary K-5 200 15.2 Pine Bluff 15 (501) 500-0558
Friendship Aspire Academy Little Rock Middle School 6-8 62 7.9 Pine Bluff 15 (501) 621-1500

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.

Questions parents ask

How many charter schools are in Jacksonville?

2 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Jacksonville, and 20 more are within 15 miles. Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary, Jacksonville Lighthouse High School.

Do charter schools in Jacksonville charge tuition?

No. Charter schools are public schools, and the federal definition of a charter school says it does not charge tuition. Ask each school about fees for extras.

How do I enroll in a Jacksonville charter school?

Apply to each school directly. Under the federal definition, a charter school admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for, so check each school’s application dates. Each state writes its own charter law.

School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.

See charter schools How enrollment works