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Charter schools in Hillsborough, NC

2 schools in Hillsborough, 12 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Hillsborough charter schools at a glance

2 public charter schools give Hillsborough as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 12 more are within 15 miles. The 2 in town had about 1,208 students in 2024-25. 2 teach elementary grades and 1 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

1,208 students, 2024-25
1 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Hillsborough (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
Eno River Academy K-12 828 13.3 (919) 644-6272
The Expedition School K-8 380 13.2 (919) 245-8432

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
Carolina Achieve K-2 new in 2025-26 Mebane 8 (919) 964-2158
Community School of Digital & Visual Art K-8 204 15.5 Durham 10 (919) 797-2340
Excelsior Classical Academy K-12 1,032 24.8 Durham 11 (919) 213-8585
Voyager Academy K-12 1,360 13.4 Durham 11 (919) 433-3301
Durham Charter School K-12 1,010 13.9 Durham 12 (919) 956-5599
Central Park School For Children K-8 585 12.4 Durham 12 (919) 682-1200
Discovery Charter 6-12 453 15.4 Bahama 12 (984) 888-5504
Global Scholars Academy K-8 201 11.8 Durham 13 (919) 682-5903
KIPP Durham College Preparatory K-8 380 14.9 Durham 13 (919) 973-0285
Maureen Joy Charter School K-8 631 11.7 Durham 14 (919) 908-1600
Alamance Community School K-8 736 14.6 Haw River 14 (336) 270-5052
North Oak Academy K-5 new in 2025-26 Durham 15 (919) 695-9900

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 Hillsborough?

2 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Hillsborough, and 12 more are within 15 miles. Eno River Academy, The Expedition School.

Do charter schools in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough 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