Charter schools in Sanford, NC
4 schools in Sanford. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Sanford charter schools at a glance
4 public charter schools give Sanford as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory. The 4 in town had about 1,473 students in 2024-25. 1 teach elementary grades and 3 teach high school. One is mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Sanford (4)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County | 6-12 | 628 | 13.5 | (919) 842-5411 |
| Central Carolina Academy | 6-12 | 536 | 15.4 | (984) 977-9455 |
| Rising Leaders Academy | K-8 | 282 | 10 | (919) 745-1442 |
| Ascend Leadership Remote AcademyFully online | 6-10 | 27 | (919) 842-5411 |
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
- Charter schools in Vass (18 mi)
- Charter schools in Holly Springs (22 mi)
- Charter schools in Apex (23 mi)
- Charter schools in Cary (28 mi)
- Charter schools in Morrisville (30 mi)
- Charter schools in Chapel Hill (31 mi)
- Charter schools in Saxapahaw (33 mi)
- Charter schools in Durham (37 mi)
- Charter schools in Raleigh (38 mi)
- All charter schools in North Carolina
- Private schools in Sanford (listed separately)
- What North Carolina pays toward private school
- Charter schools in every state
Questions parents ask
How many charter schools are in Sanford?
4 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Sanford. Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County, Central Carolina Academy, Rising Leaders Academy, Ascend Leadership Remote Academy.
Do charter schools in Sanford 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 Sanford 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.