Charter schools in Minnesota
306 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 71,195 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.
- Saint Paul (72)
- Minneapolis (53)
- Brooklyn Park (10)
- Saint Cloud (7)
- Bemidji (6)
- Coon Rapids (6)
- Forest Lake (6)
- Richfield (6)
- Bloomington (5)
- Burnsville (5)
- Stillwater (5)
- Columbia Heights (4)
- Duluth (4)
- Elk River (4)
- Maple Grove (4)
- Rochester (4)
- White Bear Lake (4)
- Cologne (3)
- Crosslake (3)
- Faribault (3)
- Henderson (3)
- Minnetonka (3)
- North Saint Paul (3)
- Otsego (3)
- Shoreview (3)
- Vadnais Heights (3)
- Winona (3)
- Woodbury (3)
- Apple Valley (2)
- Brooklyn Center (2)
- Eagan (2)
- Echo (2)
- Edina (2)
- Hutchinson (2)
- Inver Grove Heights (2)
- Isanti (2)
- LA Crescent (2)
- Maplewood (2)
- Marine on Saint Croix (2)
- Northfield (2)
- Ramsey (2)
- Roseville (2)
- Shakopee (2)
- Buffalo (1)
- Champlin (1)
- Chaska (1)
- Chisago City (1)
- Crystal (1)
- East Bethel (1)
- Eden Prairie (1)
- Farmington (1)
- Golden Valley (1)
- Ham Lake (1)
- Hopkins (1)
- Houston (1)
- Little Canada (1)
- Monticello (1)
- Nerstrand (1)
- New Brighton (1)
- New Hope (1)
- North Branch (1)
- Owatonna (1)
- Rollingstone (1)
- Savage (1)
- St Paul (1)
- West Saint Paul (1)
Online charter schools in Minnesota (22)
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 Minnesota it enrolls from.
Other charter schools in Minnesota (15)
Schools in towns without a page of their own, by town.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Town | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalon Prep Academy | 9-12 | 141 | 12.2 | Alexandria | (320) 460-8881 |
| Discovery Woods | PK-6 | 101 | 8.9 | Brainerd | (218) 828-8200 |
| Great Expectations | K-8 | 113 | 9.4 | Grand Marais | (218) 387-9322 |
| Oshki Ogimaag Charter School | K-6 | 19 | 4.8 | Grand Portage | (218) 475-2112 |
| East Range Academy of Tech-Science | 9-12 | 127 | 12.5 | Mountain Iron | (218) 744-7965 |
| Naytahwaush Community School | K-6 | 134 | 8.6 | Naytahwaush | (218) 935-5025 |
| Heartland Lakes Elementary | K-7 | 83 | 14.1 | Park Rapids | (218) 237-3903 |
| Endazhi-Nitaawiging | K-8 | 113 | 20.6 | Red Lake | (218) 679-1060 |
| Creekstone Montessori | PK-8 | 122 | 15.6 | Red Wing | (651) 327-2468 |
| Glacial Hills Elementary | PK-6 | 97 | 8.8 | Starbuck | (320) 244-3334 |
| Birch Grove Community School | K-5 | 45 | 11.2 | Tofte | (218) 663-0170 |
| Vermilion Country School | 7-12 | 50 | 9.2 | Tower | (218) 753-1246 |
| Northern Lights Community School | 6-12 | 91 | 9.4 | Warba | (218) 492-4400 |
| Team Academy | PK-6 | 101 | 5.6 | Waseca | (507) 833-8326 |
| DREAM Technical Academy | 7-12 | 72 | 22.7 | Willmar | (320) 262-5640 |
Who runs and charters them
Networks and districts with the most charter schools in Minnesota: Minnesota Transitions Charter Sch (9), Community School of Excellence (6), Prodeo Academy (6), Cyber Village Academy (5), Harvest Best Academy (4), Hope Community Academy (4), Lakes International Language Academ (4), Lionsgate Academy (4).
Charter authorizers named most often: Innovative Quality Schools (59), Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center (55), Novation Education Opportunities (48), Pillsbury United Communities (35), Volunteers of America - Minnesota (32), University of St. Thomas (25), Minnesota Guild of Public Charter Schools (22), Friends of Education (22).
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 Minnesota (listed separately)
- School choice in Minnesota: what is available
- Charter schools in every state
- Minnesota 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.