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Charter schools in Mission Viejo, CA

1 school in Mission Viejo, 12 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Mission Viejo charter schools at a glance

1 public charter school gives Mission Viejo as its address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 12 more are within 15 miles. The school had about 704 students in 2024-25. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

704 students, 2024-25
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Mission Viejo (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
Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County K-5 704 26.1 (949) 305-6111

Nearby, within 15 miles (12)

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
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Middle 6-8 495 22.7 Laguna Hills 3 (949) 600-9050
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley K-5 565 28.7 Lake Forest 3 (949) 540-7800
Journey K-8 617 24.7 Aliso Viejo 4 (949) 448-7232
Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts III K-12 new in 2025-26 Aliso Viejo 5 (949) 269-3290
Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts K-5 249 24.9 Laguna Niguel 6 (949) 269-3291
Community Roots Academy K-8 780 15.8 Laguna Niguel 6 (949) 831-4272
OCASA College Prep 6-12 83 11.9 San Juan Capistrano 7 (949) 269-3290
California Republic Leadership Academy Capistrano K-8 260 25.9 San Juan Capistrano 7 (949) 298-6040
Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano 7-12 185 20.5 San Juan Capistrano 8 (949) 248-1282
Irvine International Academy K-8 530 23.1 Irvine 9 (949) 242-6164
Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy K-8 455 27.6 Irvine 10 (949) 517-1610
International School for Science and Culture K-8 97 19.4 Costa Mesa 15 (949) 441-4500

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 Mission Viejo?

1 public charter school in the 2025-26 federal directory is in Mission Viejo, and 12 more are within 15 miles. Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County.

Do charter schools in Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo 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