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Charter schools in Clayton, NC

2 schools in Clayton, 10 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Clayton charter schools at a glance

2 public charter schools give Clayton as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 10 more are within 15 miles. The 2 in town had about 2,759 students in 2024-25. 2 teach elementary grades and 1 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

2,759 students, 2024-25
1 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Clayton (2)

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
American Leadership Academy - Johnston K-12 2,082 22.7 (984) 302-3630
Johnston Charter Academy K-8 677 19.5 (919) 879-8190

Nearby, within 15 miles (10)

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
Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls K-8 567 54.5 Wendell 8 (919) 752-8870
PreEminent Charter K-8 667 18.3 Raleigh 10 (919) 235-0511
Neuse Charter School K-12 925 17.4 Smithfield 11 (919) 626-2300
RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School K-8 484 12.7 Raleigh 11 (919) 446-4777
Central Wake High School 9-12 293 37.4 Raleigh 12 (919) 521-5067
Longleaf School of the Arts 9-12 405 12.7 Raleigh 13 (919) 896-8164
Doral Academy of North Carolina K-7 592 13.9 Raleigh 13 (919) 874-1001
The Exploris School K-8 448 11.7 Raleigh 14 (919) 715-3690
East Wake Academy K-12 1,265 14.4 Zebulon 14 (919) 404-0444
Raleigh Charter High School 9-12 552 12.8 Raleigh 15 (919) 715-1155

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.

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Questions parents ask

How many charter schools are in Clayton?

2 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Clayton, and 10 more are within 15 miles. American Leadership Academy - Johnston, Johnston Charter Academy.

Do charter schools in Clayton 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 Clayton 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