Charter schools in Michigan
373 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 154,171 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.
- Detroit (83)
- Grand Rapids (22)
- Flint (13)
- Southfield (10)
- Muskegon (9)
- Dearborn (8)
- Warren (8)
- Ypsilanti (8)
- Hamtramck (7)
- Redford (7)
- Lansing (6)
- Pontiac (6)
- Benton Harbor (5)
- Canton (5)
- Holland (5)
- Traverse City (5)
- Ann Arbor (4)
- Dearborn Heights (4)
- Harper Woods (4)
- Highland Park (4)
- Jackson (4)
- Livonia (4)
- Port Huron (4)
- Romulus (4)
- Saginaw (4)
- Taylor (4)
- Waterford (4)
- Bay City (3)
- Brighton (3)
- Burton (3)
- East Lansing (3)
- Inkster (3)
- Kalamazoo (3)
- Plymouth (3)
- Westland (3)
- Allegan (2)
- Battle Creek (2)
- Byron Center (2)
- Center Line (2)
- Clinton Township (2)
- Clinton Twp (2)
- Eaton Rapids (2)
- Garden City (2)
- Grand Blanc (2)
- Hillsdale (2)
- Madison Heights (2)
- Manistee (2)
- Midland (2)
- Mount Clemens (2)
- Roseville (2)
- Spring Lake (2)
- Springfield (2)
- Zeeland (2)
- Belleville (1)
- Belmont (1)
- Brimley (1)
- Eastpointe (1)
- Elsie (1)
- Essexville (1)
- Farmington Hills (1)
- Fennville (1)
- Fraser (1)
- Grand Ledge (1)
- Hazel Park (1)
- Holly (1)
- Howell (1)
- Kimball (1)
- Lakeland (1)
- Lapeer (1)
- Marshall (1)
- Melvindale (1)
- New Haven (1)
- Norton Shores (1)
- Oak Park (1)
- Okemos (1)
- Oxford (1)
- Pinckney (1)
- Portage (1)
- Sault S Marie (1)
- Sault Sainte Marie (1)
- Southgate (1)
- Sterling Heights (1)
- Sterling Hts (1)
- West Olive (1)
- Whitmore Lake (1)
- Williamsburg (1)
- Wyoming (1)
Online charter schools in Michigan (23)
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 Michigan it enrolls from.
Other charter schools in Michigan (24)
Schools in towns without a page of their own, by town.
Who runs and charters them
Networks and districts with the most charter schools in Michigan: Lighthouse Academy (9), Cesar Chavez Academy (4), Covenant Schools Detroit (4), University Preparatory Academy (PSAD) (4), American International Academy (3), Bridge Academy (3), Chandler Park Academy (3), Crescent Academy (3).
Charter authorizers named most often: Grand Valley State University (78), Central Michigan University (72), Bay Mills Community College (53), Ferris State University (38), Lake Superior State University (27), Saginaw Valley State University (27), Eastern Michigan University (10), Detroit Public Schools Community District (10).
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 Michigan (listed separately)
- School choice in Michigan: what is available
- Charter schools in every state
- Michigan 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.