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Charter schools in Maine

11 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 2,717 students in 2024-25.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

11 charter schools
4 towns with a page
2 mostly or fully online
$0 tuition

Charter schools by town

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

Online charter schools in Maine (2)

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 Maine it enrolls from.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Phone
Maine Connections AcademyFully online 7-12 504 18.7 South Portland (207) 805-3254
Maine Virtual AcademyFully online 7-12 475 13.8 Augusta (207) 613-8900

Other charter schools in Maine (4)

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

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Phone
Fiddlehead School of Arts & Science PK-8 177 13.7 Gray (207) 688-3727
Acadia Academy School PK-6 250 16.7 Lewiston (207) 333-3765
Baxter Academy for Tech & Sciences 9-12 384 14.1 Portland (207) 699-5500
Ecology Learning Ctr 9-12 120 12.4 Unity (207) 230-9275

Who runs and charters them

Networks and districts with the most charter schools in Maine: Community Regional Charter School (3).

Charter authorizers named most often: Maine Charter Schools Commission (11).

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