ChoiceFunded What your state pays

Charter schools in Alameda, CA

3 schools in Alameda, 67 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Alameda charter schools at a glance

3 public charter schools give Alameda as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 67 more are within 15 miles. The 3 in town had about 1,479 students in 2024-25. 2 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

1,479 students, 2024-25
2 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Alameda (3)

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
The Academy of Alameda K-8 638 21.8 (510) 748-4017
Nea Community Learning Center K-12 479 21.3 (510) 748-4008
Alameda Community Learning Center 6-12 362 20.6 (510) 995-4300

Nearby, within 15 miles (67)

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
Lazear Charter Academy K-8 490 23.2 Oakland 3 (510) 689-2018
Downtown Charter Academy 6-8 305 21.9 Oakland 3 (510) 535-1580
Latitude 37.8 High 9-12 389 14.9 Oakland 3 (510) 568-7936
ARISE High 9-12 396 15.7 Oakland 3 (510) 436-5487
Ascend K-8 493 21.6 Oakland 3 (510) 879-3140
Community School for Creative Education K-8 183 28.2 Oakland 3 (510) 686-4131
Achieve Academy K-5 537 23.5 Oakland 3 (510) 904-6440
Oakland Charter Academy 6-8 222 31.4 Oakland 3 (510) 532-6751
Lighthouse Community Charter K-8 549 18.8 Oakland 4 (510) 562-8801
Lighthouse Community Charter High 9-12 281 14 Oakland 4 (510) 562-8225
Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy 6-12 405 24.4 Oakland 4 (510) 567-9631
Learning Without Limits K-5 335 22.5 Oakland 4 (510) 879-1282
Alternatives in Action 9-12 106 22.1 Oakland 4 (510) 748-4314
Oakland Unity Middle 6-8 132 50.4 Oakland 4 (510) 564-4851
AIMS College Prep Middle 6-8 200 18.2 Oakland 4 (510) 893-8701
American Indian Public Charter School II K-8 617 21.8 Oakland 4 (510) 893-8701
Envision Academy for Arts & Technology 6-12 207 17.3 Oakland 4 (510) 596-8901
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy 6-12 392 26.1 Oakland 4 (510) 635-7737
Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public K-12 723 14.8 Oakland 4 (510) 775-0255
Oakland School for the Arts 6-12 828 20.6 Oakland 5 (510) 873-8800
Oakland Unity High 9-12 295 21.2 Oakland 5 (510) 635-7170
Aspire Triumph Technology Academy K-5 217 21.4 Oakland 5 (510) 638-9445
KIPP Bridge Academy K-8 520 20.7 Oakland 5 (510) 929-0437
AIMS College Prep High 9-12 386 24 Oakland 5 (510) 893-8701
Aspire Monarch Academy K-5 374 20.4 Oakland 5 (510) 568-3101
Aspire College Academy K-5 206 18.7 Oakland 5 (510) 562-8030
Cox Academy K-5 446 23 Oakland 5 (510) 904-6300
Yu Ming Charter K-8 959 19.7 Oakland 5 (510) 452-2063
LPS Oakland R & D Campus 9-12 173 12.7 Oakland 5 (510) 633-0750
Francophone Charter School of Oakland K-8 324 18 Oakland 6 (510) 394-4110
Bay Area Technology 6-12 255 33 Oakland 6 (510) 382-9932
Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy 6-12 480 15.1 Oakland 6 (510) 594-3900
East Bay Innovation Academy 6-12 451 17.6 Oakland 6 (510) 577-9557
KIPP San Francisco College Preparatory 9-12 196 9.3 San Francisco 7 (415) 643-6951
KIPP Bayview Elementary K-4 135 15.1 San Francisco 7 (415) 404-2602
Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy K-8 515 22.1 Oakland 7 (510) 658-2900
KIPP King Collegiate High 9-12 662 15.6 San Lorenzo 8 (510) 317-2330
KIPP Summit Academy 5-8 427 20.6 San Lorenzo 8 (510) 258-0106
KIPP Bayview Academy 5-8 167 13.9 San Francisco 8 (415) 467-2522
Five Keys Charter (SF Sheriff's) 9-12 201 24.4 San Francisco 8 (415) 734-3310
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) 9-12 3,447 33.3 San Francisco 8 (415) 734-3310
Mission Preparatory K-8 491 20.5 San Francisco 8 (415) 508-9626
Life Learning Academy Charter 9-12 47 7.9 San Francisco 8 (415) 397-8957
Thomas Edison Charter Academy K-8 574 20.5 San Francisco 9 (415) 970-3330
The New School of San Francisco K-8 457 19.9 San Francisco 9 (415) 401-8489
Knowledge Enlightens You (KEY) Academy K-8 645 25.8 Hayward 10 (510) 397-2524
Gateway Middle 6-8 247 16.6 San Francisco 10 (415) 922-1001
Creative Arts Charter K-8 440 18.7 San Francisco 10 (415) 749-3509
Gateway High 9-12 464 17.1 San Francisco 10 (415) 749-3600
KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy 5-8 267 19 San Francisco 10 (415) 440-4306
City Arts & Leadership Academy 9-12 397 17.3 San Francisco 10 (415) 841-8910
Opportunity Academy 10-12 175 20.7 Hayward 11 (510) 670-7602
Impact Academy of Arts & Technology 6-12 716 19.8 Hayward 12 (510) 300-1560
Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori 1-12 643 34.9 Hayward 12 (510) 370-3334
Hayward Collegiate Charter K-6 231 25.8 Hayward 12 (650) 520-3915
Invictus Academy of Richmond 7-12 403 16.5 El Cerrito 12 (510) 994-0888
Leadership Public Schools - Hayward 9-12 573 25.3 Hayward 13 (510) 300-1340
Richmond Charter Academy 6-8 296 36.7 Richmond 13 (510) 235-2465
Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez K-5 490 37.7 Richmond 13 (510) 215-7009
John Henry High 9-12 333 27.8 Richmond 13 (510) 235-2439
Summit Public School: Shasta 9-12 458 26.9 Daly City 13 (415) 799-4719
Summit Public School K2 7-12 554 22.2 El Cerrito 13 (510) 374-4093
Voices College-Bound Language Acad at W. Contra Costa Co K-8 343 34.3 Richmond 14 (510) 480-0540
Richmond College Preparatory K-8 560 36.1 Richmond 14 (510) 235-2066
Manzanita Middle 6-8 92 23 Richmond 14 (510) 222-3500
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond 9-12 546 21.2 Richmond 14 (510) 235-4522
Design Tech High 9-12 567 24.6 Redwood City 14 (650) 231-2701

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 Alameda?

3 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Alameda, and 67 more are within 15 miles. The Academy of Alameda, Nea Community Learning Center, Alameda Community Learning Center.

Do charter schools in Alameda 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 Alameda 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