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Charter schools in Charlotte, NC

25 schools in Charlotte, 12 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Charlotte charter schools at a glance

25 public charter schools give Charlotte as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 12 more are within 15 miles. The 25 in town had about 14,961 students in 2024-25. 22 teach elementary grades and 11 teach high school. One is mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

14,961 students, 2024-25
11 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Charlotte (25)

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
Sugar Creek Charter K-12 1,591 23.4 (704) 509-5470
Bradford Preparatory School K-12 1,566 14.6 (704) 549-0080
Corvian Community School K-12 1,376 18.9 (704) 717-7550
Mallard Creek STEM Academy K-8 961 13.4 (980) 288-4811
Unity Classical Charter School K-8 928 23.9 (704) 504-8460
Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy K-8 884 16 (980) 505-8344
Jackson Day School K-12 882 14.6 (704) 391-5516
KIPP Charlotte K-8 813 16.4 (704) 537-2044
Charlotte Lab School K-12 807 12.5 (704) 464-3830
Movement Charter School K-8 625 17 (704) 585-1356
Telra Institute K-10 621 16.9 (704) 727-2530
Pioneer Springs Community School K-12 558 11.9 (704) 494-0777
Movement School Eastland K-5 523 16.9 (704) 532-0640
Metrolina Reg Scholars Academy K-8 396 14.4 (704) 503-1112
Commonwealth High 9-12 377 32.2 (704) 899-4998
Stewart Creek High 9-12 342 29.6 (980) 500-3731
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy K-8 335 41.9 (980) 243-5580
Movement School Southwest K-4 284 15.5 (704) 420-7980
American Leadership Academy Charlotte K-8 277 16.3 (704) 595-3012
United Community School K-8 250 13 (980) 819-0555
Movement School Northwest K-3 208 15.1 (980) 431-5330
East Voyager Academy of Charlotte K-8 200 24.6 (704) 412-6988
Charlotte Secondary 6-12 157 22.3 (704) 295-0137
Honor Prep K-2 new in 2025-26 (980) 301-0960
Telra Institute Remote AcademyFully online 5-10 0 (704) 727-2530

Nearby, within 15 miles (12)

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
TMSA Charlotte K-12 760 14.8 Concord 9 (980) 321-7744
Queen's Grant Community School K-12 1,335 21.4 Mint Hill 10 (704) 573-6611
Matthews Charter Academy K-8 771 22.4 Matthews 11 (980) 339-5449
Socrates Academy K-12 1,039 19.6 Matthews 11 (704) 321-1711
A.C.E. Academy K-8 421 14.8 Harrisburg 11 (704) 456-7153
Bonnie Cone Classical Academy K-6 642 18.4 Huntersville 11 (704) 948-4439
Union Day School K-12 638 13.4 Weddington 12 (704) 256-1494
Aspire Trade High 9-12 270 19.8 Huntersville 12 (980) 399-7554
Lake Norman Charter K-12 2,222 17.8 Huntersville 13 (704) 948-8600
Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail K-12 1,268 47 Indian Trail 13 (704) 893-3607
Mountain Island Charter School K-12 1,782 18.7 Mt. Holly 14 (704) 827-8840
Carolina International School K-12 744 15.7 Concord 15 (704) 455-3847

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

Questions parents ask

How many charter schools are in Charlotte?

25 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Charlotte, and 12 more are within 15 miles. Sugar Creek Charter, Bradford Preparatory School, Corvian Community School, Mallard Creek STEM Academy, Unity Classical Charter School, Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy and others.

Do charter schools in Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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.

See charter schools How enrollment works