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Charter schools in Raleigh, NC

10 schools in Raleigh, 17 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Raleigh charter schools at a glance

10 public charter schools give Raleigh as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 17 more are within 15 miles. The 10 in town had about 4,364 students in 2024-25. 7 teach elementary grades and 3 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

4,364 students, 2024-25
3 high schools
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Raleigh (10)

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
PreEminent Charter K-8 667 18.3 (919) 235-0511
Doral Academy of North Carolina K-7 592 13.9 (919) 874-1001
Raleigh Charter High School 9-12 552 12.8 (919) 715-1155
RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School K-8 484 12.7 (919) 446-4777
The Exploris School K-8 448 11.7 (919) 715-3690
Magellan Charter 3-8 411 13.1 (919) 844-0277
Longleaf School of the Arts 9-12 405 12.7 (919) 896-8164
Raleigh Oak Charter K-8 373 14 (919) 424-7626
Central Wake High School 9-12 293 37.4 (919) 521-5067
Quest Academy K-8 139 12.6 (919) 841-0441

Nearby, within 15 miles (17)

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 Academy K-8 584 45.2 Cary 8 (919) 653-5000
Endeavor Charter School K-8 799 15.5 Wake Forest 8 (919) 848-0333
Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School PK-8 752 18.8 Wake Forest 9 (919) 855-9811
Rolesville Charter Academy K-8 716 20.7 Rolesville 10 (919) 263-1422
Sterling Montessori Academy PK-8 702 21.1 Morrisville 11 (919) 462-8889
Triangle Math and Science Academy K-12 1,904 16.2 Cary 12 (919) 388-0077
Franklin Academy K-12 1,660 13.3 Wake Forest 12 (919) 570-8262
Wake Forest Charter Academy K-8 650 18.9 Wake Forest 12 (919) 263-8673
Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls K-8 567 54.5 Wendell 12 (919) 752-8870
The Institute Development Young Leaders K-8 419 16.2 Durham 13 (919) 308-9731
Envision Science Academy K-8 759 13.3 Wake Forest 14 (919) 435-4002
Research Triangle High School 9-12 572 13.3 Durham 14 (919) 998-6757
Research Triangle Charter K-8 710 21.8 Durham 14 (919) 957-7108
Peak Charter Academy K-8 651 18.5 Apex 14 (919) 377-1552
Johnston Charter Academy K-8 677 19.5 Clayton 14 (919) 879-8190
Kestrel Heights School K-8 421 14.4 Durham 15 (919) 484-1300
Wake Preparatory Academy K-12 2,617 21.5 Wake Forest 15 (984) 245-0050

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 Raleigh?

10 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Raleigh, and 17 more are within 15 miles. PreEminent Charter, Doral Academy of North Carolina, Raleigh Charter High School, RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School, The Exploris School, Magellan Charter and others.

Do charter schools in Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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