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Charter schools in San Francisco, CA

14 schools in San Francisco, 50 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

San Francisco charter schools at a glance

14 public charter schools give San Francisco as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 50 more are within 15 miles. The 14 in town had about 7,530 students in 2024-25. 7 teach elementary grades and 6 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

7,530 students, 2024-25
6 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in San Francisco (14)

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
Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) 9-12 3,447 33.3 (415) 734-3310
Thomas Edison Charter Academy K-8 574 20.5 (415) 970-3330
Mission Preparatory K-8 491 20.5 (415) 508-9626
Gateway High 9-12 464 17.1 (415) 749-3600
The New School of San Francisco K-8 457 19.9 (415) 401-8489
Creative Arts Charter K-8 440 18.7 (415) 749-3509
City Arts & Leadership Academy 9-12 397 17.3 (415) 841-8910
KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy 5-8 267 19 (415) 440-4306
Gateway Middle 6-8 247 16.6 (415) 922-1001
Five Keys Charter (SF Sheriff's) 9-12 201 24.4 (415) 734-3310
KIPP San Francisco College Preparatory 9-12 196 9.3 (415) 643-6951
KIPP Bayview Academy 5-8 167 13.9 (415) 467-2522
KIPP Bayview Elementary K-4 135 15.1 (415) 404-2602
Life Learning Academy Charter 9-12 47 7.9 (415) 397-8957

Nearby, within 15 miles (50)

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
Alameda Community Learning Center 6-12 362 20.6 Alameda 7 (510) 995-4300
Nea Community Learning Center K-12 479 21.3 Alameda 7 (510) 748-4008
The Academy of Alameda K-8 638 21.8 Alameda 7 (510) 748-4017
KIPP Bridge Academy K-8 520 20.7 Oakland 8 (510) 929-0437
Yu Ming Charter K-8 959 19.7 Oakland 8 (510) 452-2063
Oakland School for the Arts 6-12 828 20.6 Oakland 8 (510) 873-8800
Envision Academy for Arts & Technology 6-12 207 17.3 Oakland 8 (510) 596-8901
AIMS College Prep Middle 6-8 200 18.2 Oakland 8 (510) 893-8701
American Indian Public Charter School II K-8 617 21.8 Oakland 8 (510) 893-8701
Summit Public School: Shasta 9-12 458 26.9 Daly City 8 (415) 799-4719
Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy 6-12 480 15.1 Oakland 8 (510) 594-3900
Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy K-8 515 22.1 Oakland 8 (510) 658-2900
AIMS College Prep High 9-12 386 24 Oakland 9 (510) 893-8701
Downtown Charter Academy 6-8 305 21.9 Oakland 9 (510) 535-1580
Community School for Creative Education K-8 183 28.2 Oakland 9 (510) 686-4131
Richmond Charter Academy 6-8 296 36.7 Richmond 10 (510) 235-2465
Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez K-5 490 37.7 Richmond 10 (510) 215-7009
Lazear Charter Academy K-8 490 23.2 Oakland 10 (510) 689-2018
John Henry High 9-12 333 27.8 Richmond 10 (510) 235-2439
Latitude 37.8 High 9-12 389 14.9 Oakland 10 (510) 568-7936
Achieve Academy K-5 537 23.5 Oakland 10 (510) 904-6440
ARISE High 9-12 396 15.7 Oakland 10 (510) 436-5487
Ascend K-8 493 21.6 Oakland 10 (510) 879-3140
Oakland Charter Academy 6-8 222 31.4 Oakland 11 (510) 532-6751
Richmond College Preparatory K-8 560 36.1 Richmond 11 (510) 235-2066
Learning Without Limits K-5 335 22.5 Oakland 11 (510) 879-1282
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond 9-12 546 21.2 Richmond 11 (510) 235-4522
Invictus Academy of Richmond 7-12 403 16.5 El Cerrito 11 (510) 994-0888
Voices College-Bound Language Acad at W. Contra Costa Co K-8 343 34.3 Richmond 11 (510) 480-0540
Summit Public School K2 7-12 554 22.2 El Cerrito 12 (510) 374-4093
Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy 6-12 405 24.4 Oakland 12 (510) 567-9631
Manzanita Middle 6-8 92 23 Richmond 12 (510) 222-3500
Alternatives in Action 9-12 106 22.1 Oakland 12 (510) 748-4314
Oakland Unity Middle 6-8 132 50.4 Oakland 12 (510) 564-4851
Lighthouse Community Charter K-8 549 18.8 Oakland 12 (510) 562-8801
Lighthouse Community Charter High 9-12 281 14 Oakland 12 (510) 562-8225
Oakland Unity High 9-12 295 21.2 Oakland 12 (510) 635-7170
Aspire Triumph Technology Academy K-5 217 21.4 Oakland 13 (510) 638-9445
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy 6-12 392 26.1 Oakland 13 (510) 635-7737
Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public K-12 723 14.8 Oakland 13 (510) 775-0255
Aspire College Academy K-5 206 18.7 Oakland 13 (510) 562-8030
Aspire Monarch Academy K-5 374 20.4 Oakland 14 (510) 568-3101
LPS Oakland R & D Campus 9-12 173 12.7 Oakland 14 (510) 633-0750
Cox Academy K-5 446 23 Oakland 14 (510) 904-6300
Francophone Charter School of Oakland K-8 324 18 Oakland 14 (510) 394-4110
Bay Area Technology 6-12 255 33 Oakland 14 (510) 382-9932
Summit Public School: Tamalpais 7-12 629 24.9 Richmond 15 (510) 374-4185
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy 6-12 590 24.6 Richmond 15 (510) 684-8900
Aspire Richmond Technology Academy K-5 586 21.4 Richmond 15 (510) 480-0660
East Bay Innovation Academy 6-12 451 17.6 Oakland 15 (510) 577-9557

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 San Francisco?

14 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in San Francisco, and 50 more are within 15 miles. Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's), Thomas Edison Charter Academy, Mission Preparatory, Gateway High, The New School of San Francisco, Creative Arts Charter and others.

Do charter schools in San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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