Charter schools in Costa Mesa, CA
3 schools in Costa Mesa, 33 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Costa Mesa charter schools at a glance
3 public charter schools give Costa Mesa as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 33 more are within 15 miles. The 3 in town had about 830 students in 2024-25. 3 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. 2 are mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Costa Mesa (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Pacific Charter- Los AngelesFully online | K-12 | 423 | 10.6 | (855) 225-7227 |
| California Pacific Charter - San DiegoFully online | K-12 | 310 | 7.7 | (855) 225-7227 |
| International School for Science and Culture | K-8 | 97 | 19.4 | (949) 441-4500 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (33)
Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.
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
- Charter schools in Santa Ana (5 mi)
- Charter schools in Irvine (8 mi)
- Charter schools in Orange (9 mi)
- Charter schools in Cypress (13 mi)
- Charter schools in Anaheim (16 mi)
- Charter schools in Long Beach (17 mi)
- Charter schools in San Juan Capistrano (19 mi)
- Charter schools in Compton (24 mi)
- Charter schools in Corona (24 mi)
- Charter schools in South Gate (25 mi)
- All charter schools in California
- Private schools in Costa Mesa (listed separately)
- School choice in California: what is available
- Charter schools in every state
Questions parents ask
How many charter schools are in Costa Mesa?
3 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Costa Mesa, and 33 more are within 15 miles. California Pacific Charter- Los Angeles, California Pacific Charter - San Diego, International School for Science and Culture.
Do charter schools in Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa 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.