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Charter schools in Nevada City, CA

4 schools in Nevada City, 8 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Nevada City charter schools at a glance

4 public charter schools give Nevada City as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 8 more are within 15 miles. The 4 in town had about 1,721 students in 2024-25. 3 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

1,721 students, 2024-25
2 high schools
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: Nevada County Office of Education (2). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Nevada City (4)

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
Forest Charter K-12 845 21 (530) 265-4823
Nevada City School of the Arts K-8 477 18.5 (530) 273-7736
Twin Ridges Home Study Charter K-8 208 19.2 (530) 478-1815
Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning 9-12 191 13.3 (530) 268-2200

Nearby, within 15 miles (8)

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
Bitney Prep High 9-12 not reported Grass Valley 2 (530) 477-1235
Grass Valley Charter K-8 546 23.7 Grass Valley 3 (530) 273-8723
Yuba River Charter K-8 323 26.4 Grass Valley 4 (530) 272-6060
Union Hill Elementary K-6 542 20.2 Grass Valley 4 (530) 273-8456
John Muir Charter 6-12 629 16.6 Grass Valley 4 (530) 272-4008
Chicago Park Community Charter K-8 43 16.7 Grass Valley 9 (530) 346-2153
Vantage Point Charter K-12 33 8.3 Penn Valley 9 (530) 432-5312
Yuba Environmental Science Charter Academy K-12 184 13.2 Oregon House 13 (530) 692-2210

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 Nevada City?

4 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Nevada City, and 8 more are within 15 miles. Forest Charter, Nevada City School of the Arts, Twin Ridges Home Study Charter, Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning.

Do charter schools in Nevada City 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 Nevada City 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