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Charter schools in Denver, NC

2 schools in Denver, 8 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Denver charter schools at a glance

2 public charter schools give Denver as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 8 more are within 15 miles. The 2 in town had about 2,718 students in 2024-25. 2 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

2,718 students, 2024-25
2 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Denver (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
Lincoln Charter School K-12 2,316 16.5 (704) 483-6611
West Lake Preparatory Academy K-9 402 54.3 (704) 966-2202

Nearby, within 15 miles (8)

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
Langtree Charter Academy K-12 1,376 31.5 Mooresville 10 (704) 235-0865
Community School of Davidson K-12 1,631 18.8 Davidson 11 (704) 897-8061
Pine Lake Preparatory K-12 1,888 15.9 Mooresville 11 (704) 237-5300
Community Charter School K-11 858 16.5 Stanley 12 (704) 931-4418
Lakeside Charter Academy K-8 221 14.9 Cornelius 13 (704) 896-9500
Mountain Island Charter School K-12 1,782 18.7 Mt. Holly 13 (704) 827-8840
Iredell Charter Academy of Arts &Science K-8 795 40.2 Troutman 14 (704) 508-0104
Aspire Trade High 9-12 270 19.8 Huntersville 14 (980) 399-7554

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 Denver?

2 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Denver, and 8 more are within 15 miles. Lincoln Charter School, West Lake Preparatory Academy.

Do charter schools in Denver 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 Denver 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