Charter schools in Buffalo, MN
1 school in Buffalo, 4 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Buffalo charter schools at a glance
1 public charter school gives Buffalo as its address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 4 more are within 15 miles. The school had about 84 students in 2024-25. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Buffalo (1)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Nova School | 6-12 | 84 | 10.5 | (952) 852-0129 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (4)
Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Town | Miles | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan River Montessori Charter Sch | PK-6 | 161 | 12.9 | Monticello | 9 | (763) 271-7926 |
| Kaleidoscope Charter Elementary Sch | K-5 | 300 | 10.9 | Otsego | 11 | (763) 428-1890 |
| Kaleidoscope Charter High School | 9-12 | 76 | 6.7 | Otsego | 11 | (763) 428-1890 |
| Kaleidoscope Middle School | 6-8 | 117 | 93.6 | Otsego | 11 | (763) 428-1890 |
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
- Charter schools in Otsego (13 mi)
- Charter schools in Elk River (18 mi)
- Charter schools in Maple Grove (20 mi)
- Charter schools in Brooklyn Park (26 mi)
- Charter schools in Minnetonka (26 mi)
- Charter schools in Coon Rapids (27 mi)
- Charter schools in Chaska (28 mi)
- Charter schools in Saint Cloud (28 mi)
- Charter schools in Cologne (29 mi)
- Charter schools in Columbia Heights (31 mi)
- All charter schools in Minnesota
- School choice in Minnesota: what is available
- Charter schools in every state
Questions parents ask
How many charter schools are in Buffalo?
1 public charter school in the 2025-26 federal directory is in Buffalo, and 4 more are within 15 miles. Terra Nova School.
Do charter schools in Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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.