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Charter schools in North Carolina

219 open public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory, about 151,768 students in 2024-25.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

219 charter schools
78 towns with a page
10 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 North Carolina (10)

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 North Carolina it enrolls from.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Phone
NC Virtual AcademyFully online K-12 3,482 18.7 Durham (919) 346-0121
Pine Springs Preparatory Remote AcademyFully online K-12 2,552 Holly Springs (855) 632-2034
North Carolina Cyber AcademyFully online K-12 2,461 17.1 Durham (984) 262-9237
Phoenix Academy - Primary Elem UpperMostly online K-12 1,583 20.9 High Point (336) 869-0079
The Capitol Encore AcademyMostly online K-12 853 13.6 Fayetteville (910) 849-0888
Wilmington School of the ArtsMostly online K-7 297 14.7 Wilmington (910) 399-3712
Uwharrie Charter Remote AcademyFully online 6-12 112 Asheboro (336) 610-0818
Ascend Leadership Remote AcademyFully online 6-10 27 Sanford (919) 842-5411
Telra Institute Remote AcademyFully online 5-10 0 Charlotte (704) 727-2530
NE Carolina Prep School Remote AcademyFully online 6-12 0 Tarboro (252) 641-0464

Other charter schools in North Carolina (31)

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

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Phone
Arapahoe Charter School K-12 498 15.8 Arapahoe (252) 249-2599
Tiller School K-5 206 11.4 Beaufort (252) 728-1995
Two Rivers Community School K-8 163 13.6 Boone (828) 262-5411
Mountain Discovery K-8 221 16.2 Bryson City (828) 488-1222
Summit Charter K-12 315 13.7 Cashiers (828) 743-5755
Water's Edge Village School K-8 50 12.5 Corolla (252) 453-4502
Pocosin Innovative Charter K-8 269 11.8 Creswell (252) 797-0230
NE Academy for Aerospace & AdvTech 5-12 760 17.8 Elizabeth City (252) 562-0653
KIPP Pride College Preparatory K-12 1,143 15.3 Gaston (252) 308-6932
Hobgood Charter School K-12 569 13.1 Hobgood (252) 242-1880
Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School K-12 140 14.5 Hollister (252) 257-5853
Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology K-8 104 17.8 Jacksonville (910) 219-8603
Lake Lure Classical Academy K-12 481 17.7 Lake Lure (828) 625-9292
Thomas Academy 3-12 62 8.8 Lake Waccamaw (910) 646-2237
Oak Hill Charter School K-8 253 15.3 Lenoir (828) 759-1383
Davidson Charter Academy K-8 658 15.9 Lexington (336) 803-7809
Gray Stone Day 6-12 728 17.4 Misenheimer (704) 463-0567
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy K-12 1,330 21.5 Mooresboro (828) 657-9998
New Dimensions K-8 569 14.8 Morganton (828) 437-5753
Millennium Charter Academy K-12 628 14.9 Mount Airy (336) 789-7570
Riverside Leadership Academy K-7 374 New Bern (252) 276-2150
Marjorie Williams Academy K-12 130 6.5 Newland (828) 733-5241
Rocky Mount Preparatory K-12 854 24.2 Rocky Mount (252) 443-9923
Pinnacle Classical Academy K-12 1,178 27.7 Shelby (704) 740-4040
Chatham Charter K-12 591 14 Siler City (919) 742-4550
Anderson Creek Academy K-5 305 15.2 Spring Lake (910) 814-9001
Washington Montessori K-12 429 12.4 Washington (252) 946-1977
Shining Rock Classical Academy K-12 616 13 Waynesville (828) 476-5150
Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville K-8 842 44.7 Whiteville (910) 641-4042
Bear Grass Charter School 5-12 445 14.4 Williamston (252) 789-1010
Winterville Charter Academy K-8 624 22.1 Winterville (252) 689-6153

Who runs and charters them

Networks and districts with the most charter schools in North Carolina: North East Carolina Preparatory School (2), Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss (2).

Charter authorizers named most often: NC State Board of Education (219).

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