ChoiceFunded What your state pays

Charter schools in Illinois

128 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 58,066 students in 2024-25.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

128 charter schools
6 towns with a page
$0 tuition

Charter schools by town

Each town page lists its own charter schools and the others within 15 miles.

Other charter schools in Illinois (7)

Schools in towns without a page of their own, by town.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Phone
Robertson Charter School PK-8 327 29.7 Decatur (217) 428-7072
SIU Charter Sch of East St Louis 9-12 99 16.5 East Saint Louis (618) 482-8391
Elgin Math and Science Academy Charter School K-8 499 15 Elgin (630) 883-5013
YBMC Charter Sch 11-12 16 4 Normal (309) 454-3898
Cambridge Lakes Charter School K-12 642 13.1 Pingree Grove (847) 464-4300
Southland College Prep Charter High School 9-12 584 10.2 Richton Park (708) 748-0100
Springfield Ball Charter School K-8 394 15.2 Springfield (217) 525-3275

Who runs and charters them

Networks and districts with the most charter schools in Illinois: Chicago Public Schools District 299 (108), Rockford SD 205 (3), North Chicago SD 187 (2).

Charter authorizers named most often: Chicago Public Schools District 299 (108), Illinois St Board of Education (10), Rockford SD 205 (3), North Chicago SD 187 (2), Decatur SD 61 (1), East St Louis SD 189 (1), Mclean County USD 5 (1), Cusd 300 (1).

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.

School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.

Find by town How charters work