Charter schools in District of Columbia
124 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 41,502 students in 2024-25.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Charter schools by town
Each town page lists its own charter schools and the others within 15 miles.
- Washington (124)
Online charter schools in District of Columbia (1)
These schools told the federal survey that most or all of their teaching is online (2024-25). Their address is an office; ask each one which parts of District of Columbia it enrolls from.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Town | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship PCS - Online AcademyFully online | K-8 | 366 | 24.4 | Washington | (202) 729-8287 |
Who runs and charters them
Networks and districts with the most charter schools in District of Columbia: KIPP DC PCS (20), Friendship PCS (15), AppleTree Early Learning PCS (8), Center City PCS (6), DC Prep PCS (6), Washington Latin PCS (4), Capital City PCS (3), E.L. Haynes PCS (3).
Charter authorizers named most often: DC Public Charter School Board (124).
Names as the state reported them to the federal directory (2025-26).
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.
- Private schools in District of Columbia (listed separately)
- What District of Columbia pays toward private school
- Charter schools in every state
- District of Columbia next to other states: charter and private school choice
School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.