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Charter schools in Richmond, CA

11 schools in Richmond, 41 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Richmond charter schools at a glance

11 public charter schools give Richmond as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 41 more are within 15 miles. The 11 in town had about 5,543 students in 2024-25. 5 teach elementary grades and 5 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

5,543 students, 2024-25
5 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Richmond (11)

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
Making Waves Academy 5-12 1,078 19.2 (510) 262-1511
Summit Public School: Tamalpais 7-12 629 24.9 (510) 374-4185
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy 6-12 590 24.6 (510) 684-8900
Aspire Richmond Technology Academy K-5 586 21.4 (510) 480-0660
Richmond College Preparatory K-8 560 36.1 (510) 235-2066
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond 9-12 546 21.2 (510) 235-4522
Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez K-5 490 37.7 (510) 215-7009
Voices College-Bound Language Acad at W. Contra Costa Co K-8 343 34.3 (510) 480-0540
John Henry High 9-12 333 27.8 (510) 235-2439
Richmond Charter Academy 6-8 296 36.7 (510) 235-2465
Manzanita Middle 6-8 92 23 (510) 222-3500

Nearby, within 15 miles (41)

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
Summit Public School K2 7-12 554 22.2 El Cerrito 3 (510) 374-4093
Caliber: Beta Academy K-8 971 18.3 San Pablo 4 (510) 685-9886
Invictus Academy of Richmond 7-12 403 16.5 El Cerrito 4 (510) 994-0888
Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy K-8 515 22.1 Oakland 8 (510) 658-2900
Life Learning Academy Charter 9-12 47 7.9 San Francisco 9 (415) 397-8957
Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy 6-12 480 15.1 Oakland 10 (510) 594-3900
Yu Ming Charter K-8 959 19.7 Oakland 10 (510) 452-2063
KIPP Bridge Academy K-8 520 20.7 Oakland 11 (510) 929-0437
The New School of San Francisco K-8 457 19.9 San Francisco 11 (415) 401-8489
Oakland School for the Arts 6-12 828 20.6 Oakland 11 (510) 873-8800
Envision Academy for Arts & Technology 6-12 207 17.3 Oakland 11 (510) 596-8901
Novato Charter K-8 269 19.7 Novato 11 (415) 883-4254
AIMS College Prep High 9-12 386 24 Oakland 11 (510) 893-8701
AIMS College Prep Middle 6-8 200 18.2 Oakland 12 (510) 893-8701
American Indian Public Charter School II K-8 617 21.8 Oakland 12 (510) 893-8701
Five Keys Charter (SF Sheriff's) 9-12 201 24.4 San Francisco 12 (415) 734-3310
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) 9-12 3,447 33.3 San Francisco 12 (415) 734-3310
Gateway High 9-12 464 17.1 San Francisco 12 (415) 749-3600
KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy 5-8 267 19 San Francisco 12 (415) 440-4306
Creative Arts Charter K-8 440 18.7 San Francisco 13 (415) 749-3509
Alameda Community Learning Center 6-12 362 20.6 Alameda 13 (510) 995-4300
Nea Community Learning Center K-12 479 21.3 Alameda 13 (510) 748-4008
Gateway Middle 6-8 247 16.6 San Francisco 13 (415) 922-1001
Ross Valley Charter K-5 198 24.8 Fairfax 13 (415) 534-6970
The Academy of Alameda K-8 638 21.8 Alameda 13 (510) 748-4017
Caliber: ChangeMakers Academy K-8 975 20.6 Vallejo 13 (707) 563-9827
Community School for Creative Education K-8 183 28.2 Oakland 13 (510) 686-4131
Vallejo Charter K-8 350 23.2 Vallejo 13 (707) 556-8620
Downtown Charter Academy 6-8 305 21.9 Oakland 14 (510) 535-1580
Achieve Academy K-5 537 23.5 Oakland 14 (510) 904-6440
Mission Preparatory K-8 491 20.5 San Francisco 14 (415) 508-9626
Griffin Academy High 9-12 186 18.8 Vallejo 14 (707) 552-6482
MIT Griffin Academy Middle 6-8 111 27.4 Vallejo 14 (707) 552-6482
Lazear Charter Academy K-8 490 23.2 Oakland 14 (510) 689-2018
Latitude 37.8 High 9-12 389 14.9 Oakland 14 (510) 568-7936
Thomas Edison Charter Academy K-8 574 20.5 San Francisco 14 (415) 970-3330
ARISE High 9-12 396 15.7 Oakland 14 (510) 436-5487
Learning Without Limits K-5 335 22.5 Oakland 14 (510) 879-1282
Ascend K-8 493 21.6 Oakland 15 (510) 879-3140
Oakland Charter Academy 6-8 222 31.4 Oakland 15 (510) 532-6751
Elite Public K-12 612 20.9 Vallejo 15 (707) 652-3142

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 Richmond?

11 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Richmond, and 41 more are within 15 miles. Making Waves Academy, Summit Public School: Tamalpais, Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy, Aspire Richmond Technology Academy, Richmond College Preparatory, Leadership Public Schools: Richmond and others.

Do charter schools in Richmond 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 Richmond 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