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Charter schools in Gilroy, CA

1 school in Gilroy, 10 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Gilroy charter schools at a glance

1 public charter school gives Gilroy as its address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 10 more are within 15 miles. The school had about 587 students in 2024-25. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

587 students, 2024-25
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: Pajaro Valley Unified (4). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Gilroy (1)

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
Gilroy Prep (a Navigator School) K-8 587 27.9 (408) 337-5445

Nearby, within 15 miles (10)

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
Voices College-Bound Language Academy at Morgan Hill K-8 338 33.8 Morgan Hill 8 (408) 791-1700
Alianza Charter K-8 626 22.3 Watsonville 9 (831) 728-6333
Watsonville Charter School of the Arts K-8 415 22.8 Watsonville 9 (831) 728-8123
Linscott Charter K-8 258 28.7 Watsonville 11 (831) 728-6301
Santa Cruz County Career Advancement Charter 12 207 27.4 Freedom 11 (831) 466-5697
Watsonville Prep K-8 488 23.6 Watsonville 12 (831) 274-3222
Diamond Technology Institute 9-12 87 17.1 Watsonville 12 (831) 728-6225
Ceiba College Preparatory Academy 6-12 501 16.3 Watsonville 12 (831) 786-2100
Hollister Prep K-8 538 28.2 Hollister 15 (831) 313-0772
Polytechnic Academy 9-12 new in 2025-26 Hollister 15 (831) 297-1883

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 Gilroy?

1 public charter school in the 2025-26 federal directory is in Gilroy, and 10 more are within 15 miles. Gilroy Prep (a Navigator School).

Do charter schools in Gilroy 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 Gilroy 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