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Charter schools in Auburn, CA

3 schools in Auburn, 11 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Auburn charter schools at a glance

3 public charter schools give Auburn as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 11 more are within 15 miles. The 3 in town had about 1,013 students in 2024-25. 2 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. 2 are mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

1,013 students, 2024-25
2 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Auburn (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
Bowman Charter K-8 606 22 (530) 885-1974
Placer County Pathways CharterMostly online K-12 293 15.5 (530) 745-1440
Maidu Virtual Charter AcademyMostly online 9-12 114 14.9 (530) 745-5763

Nearby, within 15 miles (11)

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
Harvest Ridge Cooperative Charter K-8 349 21.7 Newcastle 4 (916) 259-1425
Newcastle Charter K-8 333 28.7 Newcastle 4 (916) 663-3307
Loomis Basin Charter K-8 505 22.8 Loomis 9 (916) 652-2642
Horizon Charter K-12 1,757 26.4 Lincoln 12 (916) 408-5200
John Adams Academy - Lincoln K-12 1,392 21.9 Lincoln 12 (916) 209-5540
Maria Montessori Charter Academy K-8 283 17.5 Rocklin 12 (916) 630-1510
Rocklin Academy K-6 556 24.3 Rocklin 13 (916) 632-6580
Western Sierra Collegiate Academy 7-12 776 20.3 Rocklin 13 (916) 778-4544
American River Charter K-12 263 29.6 Georgetown 13 (530) 333-8340
Rocklin Academy Gateway K-8 1,093 22.7 Rocklin 13 (916) 778-4550
John Adams Academy - Roseville K-12 1,668 20.9 Roseville 14 (916) 780-6800

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.

Keep looking

Questions parents ask

How many charter schools are in Auburn?

3 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Auburn, and 11 more are within 15 miles. Bowman Charter, Placer County Pathways Charter, Maidu Virtual Charter Academy.

Do charter schools in Auburn 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 Auburn 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