Charter schools in Forest Lake, MN
6 schools in Forest Lake, 9 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Forest Lake charter schools at a glance
6 public charter schools give Forest Lake as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 9 more are within 15 miles. The 6 in town had about 1,651 students in 2024-25. 3 teach elementary grades and 3 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Forest Lake (6)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LILA Lower School | 1-5 | 607 | 14.8 | (651) 464-0771 |
| LILA Upper School | 6-12 | 579 | 13.6 | (651) 464-8989 |
| North Lakes Academy 7-12 Campus | 7-12 | 245 | 14.5 | (651) 982-2688 |
| North Lakes Academy Elementary | K-6 | 220 | 13.6 | (651) 982-2773 |
| LILA Kinder Center | PK-K | not reported | (651) 464-0771 | |
| Online Learning Program | 6-12 | 0 | (651) 464-8989 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (9)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Area Community School | K-5 | 112 | 10.6 | Marine on Saint Croix | 9 | (651) 409-3122 |
| Marine Village School | K-5 | 92 | 22.7 | Marine on Saint Croix | 10 | (651) 477-0380 |
| Star of the North - East Bethel | K-8 | 224 | East Bethel | 14 | (763) 450-5560 | |
| Oak Hill Montessori Community | PK-8 | 166 | 10.8 | Shoreview | 14 | (651) 484-8242 |
| Level Up Academy | K-5 | 145 | 13.6 | White Bear Lake | 14 | (651) 408-5559 |
| Level Up Academy Middle School | 6-8 | 64 | 13.2 | White Bear Lake | 14 | (651) 408-5559 |
| Davinci Academy | K-8 | 952 | 16.4 | Ham Lake | 14 | (763) 754-6577 |
| Gentry Academy High | 9-12 | 134 | 18 | Vadnais Heights | 14 | (651) 604-8300 |
| Gentry Academy Middle | 5-8 | 195 | 19.2 | Vadnais Heights | 14 | (651) 604-8300 |
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 Chisago City (9 mi)
- Charter schools in Marine on Saint Croix (10 mi)
- Charter schools in Ham Lake (11 mi)
- Charter schools in East Bethel (14 mi)
- Charter schools in Vadnais Heights (14 mi)
- Charter schools in Shoreview (14 mi)
- Charter schools in Stillwater (15 mi)
- Charter schools in North Saint Paul (16 mi)
- Charter schools in Coon Rapids (18 mi)
- Charter schools in Columbia Heights (19 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 Forest Lake?
6 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Forest Lake, and 9 more are within 15 miles. LILA Lower School, LILA Upper School, North Lakes Academy 7-12 Campus, North Lakes Academy Elementary, LILA Kinder Center, Online Learning Program.
Do charter schools in Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake 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.