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Charter schools in Chicago, IL

114 schools in Chicago. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Chicago charter schools at a glance

114 public charter schools give Chicago as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory. The 114 in town had about 52,892 students in 2024-25. 54 teach elementary grades and 64 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

52,892 students, 2024-25
64 high schools
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: Chicago Public Schools District 299 (108). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Chicago (114)

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
CICS - Longwood Campus 3-12 1,137 16 (773) 238-5330
Noble St CHTR-ITW Speer Acad 9-12 1,135 16.6 (773) 622-7484
Catalyst Charter - Maria ES K-12 1,107 14.2 (773) 993-1770
Noble St CHTR - Mansueto 9-12 1,106 18.3 (773) 349-8200
Noble St CHTR-Chicago Bulls Prep 9-12 1,060 16.3 (773) 534-7599
Noble St CHTR-Comer College Prep 6-12 1,007 14 (773) 729-3969
KIPP Chicago Charter School - KIPP One Academy K-8 996 124.5 (773) 938-8578
Intrinsic Charter High School 7-12 993 12.6 (708) 887-2735
Noble St CHTR-Pritzker College Prep 9-12 993 17 (773) 394-2848
Noble St CHTR-UIC College Prep 9-12 957 16.5 (312) 768-4858
KIPP Chicago Charters - Bloom Campus K-8 921 115.1 (773) 938-8565
Noble St CHTR-Muchin College Prep 9-12 909 18 (312) 445-4680
KIPP Chicago Charters - Ascend Academy K-8 897 112.1 (773) 521-4399
CICS - Northtown Campus 9-12 878 16.9 (773) 478-3655
Horizon Science Acad-McKinley Park Charter Sch K-12 873 10.8 (773) 247-8400
Perspectives CHTR - Leadership Acad 6-12 838 (773) 358-6100
Horizon Science Acad-Belmont Charter Sch K-11 785 9.8 (773) 237-2702
Moving Everest Charter School K-8 755 13.7 (312) 683-9695
Intrinsic 2 Charter High School 9-12 734 11.6 (708) 887-2810
Horizon Sci Academy - Southwest Charter K-12 712 12.3 (773) 498-3355
Noble St CHTR-Noble Campus 9-12 696 14.8 (773) 862-1449
Noble St CHTR-Butler College Prep - Crimson 9-12 695 15.4 (773) 535-5490
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Major Hector P Garcia MD H S 9-12 666 12.9 (773) 579-3480
KIPP Academy Chicago Campus K-8 649 162.2 (773) 938-8553
Noble St CHTR-Golder College Prep 9-12 633 15.8 (312) 265-9925
Chicago Math & Sci Elem Charter 6-12 623 14.1 (773) 761-8960
Rowe Elementary K-8 617 15.8 (773) 799-2730
CICS - Wrightwood K-8 614 20.5 (773) 434-4575
Art in Motion Charter School 7-12 602 21.5 (773) 820-9426
Univ of Chicago CHTR-Woodlawn 6-12 591 13.4 (773) 752-8101
IHSCA Charter High School 9-12 567 (773) 890-8020
Acero CHTR Sch Network Victoria Soto Campus 9-12 561 13.4 (312) 455-5446
Noble St CHTR Rauner College Prep 9-12 558 15.5 (312) 226-5345
CICS - Basil Campus K-8 541 41.6 (773) 778-9455
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES K-8 538 15.8 (773) 503-3040
Noble St CHTR-Hansberry College Prep - Silver 9-12 534 19.1 (773) 729-3400
Acero CHTR Sch Network - SPC Daniel Zizumbo Elem Sch K-8 532 16.6 (773) 579-3470
Noble St CHTR-Johnson College Prep 9-12 529 17.3 (312) 348-1888
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Jovita Idar Elem School K-8 528 18.5 (312) 455-5450
Acero CHTR Sch Network - PFC Omar E Torres Elem Sch K-8 528 18.5 (773) 579-3475
CICS - West Belden Campus K-8 520 15.9 (773) 637-9430
CICS - Bucktown Campus K-8 518 11.7 (773) 645-3321
Catalyst Charter-Circle Rock ES K-8 512 19 (773) 945-5025
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Officer Donald J Marquez Elem K-8 508 14.1 (773) 321-2200
Christopher House CHRT ES PK-8 502 17.9 (773) 922-7542
Univ of Chicago CHTR-Donoghue PK-5 499 21.7 (773) 285-5301
CICS - Washington Pk Campus K-8 493 27.4 (773) 324-3300
Academy for Global Citizenship K-8 486 13.9 (773) 582-1100
LEARN CHTR - Butler K-8 475 20.7 (773) 722-0200
LEARN CHTR - Hunter Perkins Campus K-8 472 20.5 (773) 488-1634
CICS - Avalon/South Shore K-8 469 27.6 (773) 721-0858
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Brighton Park Elem School K-8 465 15.2 (312) 455-5434
Acero CHTR Sch Newtwork - Roberto Clemente Elem School K-8 461 18.1 (312) 455-5425
Legacy Elem Charter School K-8 458 17.6 (773) 542-1640
CICS - Irving Park Campus K-8 453 13.3 (773) 433-5000
Providence-Englewood Elem Charter K-8 428 13.9 (773) 434-0202
Aspira Charter - Business and Finance HS 9-12 426 12.5 (773) 243-1820
Noble St CHTR-The Noble Academy 9-12 415 11.9 (312) 574-1527
Perspectives CHTR - IIT Campus 6-12 413 (773) 358-6800
CICS - Prairie Campus K-8 412 24.2 (773) 928-0480
Erie Elem Charter School K-8 405 16.9 (773) 486-7161
YCCS-Innovations of Arts Integr HS 9-12 392 32.7 (312) 999-9360
LEARN CHTR - South Chicago Campus K-8 390 14.4 (773) 722-8577
Asian Human Services -Passage Chrtr K-8 379 15.2 (773) 433-3530
LEARN Charter Excel Campus K-6 379 14 (312) 243-7001
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Carlos Fuentes Elem School K-8 370 13 (773) 279-9826
Namaste Elem Charter School K-8 364 11.7 (773) 715-9558
LEARN CHTR-Campbell Campus K-6 357 15.5 (773) 826-0370
Montessori of Englewood CHTR ES PK-8 349 49.9 (773) 535-9255
Locke A Elem Charter Academy K-8 346 14.4 (773) 265-7232
Polaris Elem Charter Academy K-8 343 22.9 (773) 534-0820
CICS - Loomis Primary Campus K-2 333 15.4 (773) 429-8955
Acero CHTR Sch Network- Sandra Cisneros Elem School K-8 326 12.3 (773) 376-8830
Noble St CHTR-DRW Trading College Prep 9-12 323 11.5 (773) 893-4500
Noble St CHTR-Rowe-Clark MS Acad 9-12 320 14.5 (773) 242-2212
Perspectives CHTR - High School of Technology 9-12 320 (773) 358-6120
Perspectives CHTR - Joslin Campus 6-12 313 (312) 225-7400
Univ of Chicago CHTR-NTH Kenwood PK-5 304 19 (773) 536-2399
Betty Shabazz International Charter School K-8 293 17.2 (773) 651-1221
ASPIRA Charter - Early College Prep HS 9-12 285 13.6 (773) 243-1626
Noble St CHTR-Baker Campus 9-12 285 15.8 (773) 535-6460
YCCS-Sullivan House Alt HS 9-12 281 35.1 (773) 978-8680
CICS - Bond Campus K-6 279 16.4 (773) 468-1300
North Lawndale Prep CHTR-Collins 9-12 276 23 (773) 542-6766
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Rufino Tamayo Elem Sch K-8 266 14 (773) 434-6355
North Lawndale Prep CHTR - Christiana 9-12 258 21.5 (773) 542-1490
Chicago Collegiate Charter School 6-12 255 (773) 536-9098
EPIC Academy High School 9-12 255 11.6 (773) 535-7930
CICS - Ralph Ellison Campus 9-12 247 24.7 (773) 478-4434
Barbara A Sizemore Campus K-8 231 16.5 (773) 651-1661
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Bartolome de las Casas Elem Sch K-8 225 13.2 (312) 432-3224
Acero CHTR Sch Network - Esmeralda Santiago Elem Sch K-8 224 12.4 (312) 455-5410
Legal Prep Academy Charter HS 9-12 210 17.5 (773) 922-7800
YCCS-ASPIRA Pantoja Alt HS 9-12 200 18.2 (773) 486-6303
YCCS-Truman Middle College HS 9-12 192 16 (773) 907-4840
YCCS-Albizu Campos Puerto Rican HS 9-12 184 23 (773) 342-8022
LEARN CHTR - Middle School 6-8 176 12.6 (773) 584-4300
YCCS-Latino Youth Alternative HS 9-12 174 19.3 (773) 648-2130
Urban Prep CHTR Acad Bronzeville HS 9-12 148 14.8 (773) 624-3444
LEARN CHTR - 7th Campus K-5 144 12 (773) 584-4300
ACE Amandla Charter School 9-12 137 10.5 (773) 535-7150
YCCS-Olive Harvey Mid College HS 9-12 128 21.3 (773) 291-6517
YCCS-CCA Academy HS 9-12 124 62 (773) 762-2272
YCCS-Progressive Leadership Academy 9-12 122 61 (773) 363-3837
YCCS-Scholastic Achievement HS 9-12 117 23.4 (773) 921-1315
YCCS-West Town Academy Alt HS 9-12 115 23 (312) 563-9044
YCCS-Association House 9-12 105 52.5 (773) 772-7170
YCCS CHTR - Chatham 9-12 104 34.7 (773) 651-1500
YCCS- McKinley-Lakeside Leadership Academy 9-12 103 14.7 (312) 949-5010
YCCS-Youth Connection Leadership Academy 9-12 100 25 (312) 225-4668
IJLA Charter High School 9-12 95 (773) 890-8060
YCCS-Community Youth Dev Inst HS 9-12 94 18.8 (773) 224-2273
Urban Prep CHTR Acad Englewood HS 9-12 87 8.7 (773) 535-9724
YCCS West 9-12 80 40 (773) 261-0994

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 Chicago?

114 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Chicago. CICS - Longwood Campus, Noble St CHTR-ITW Speer Acad, Catalyst Charter - Maria ES, Noble St CHTR - Mansueto, Noble St CHTR-Chicago Bulls Prep, Noble St CHTR-Comer College Prep and others.

Do charter schools in Chicago 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 Chicago 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