Charter schools in Columbia, SC
8 schools in Columbia, 3 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Columbia charter schools at a glance
8 public charter schools give Columbia as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 3 more are within 15 miles. The 8 in town had about 9,279 students in 2024-25. 5 teach elementary grades and 6 teach high school. 3 are mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Columbia (8)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC Connections AcademyFully online | K-12 | 6,152 | 23 | (803) 212-4712 |
| Carolus Online AcademyFully online | K-12 | 1,786 | 27.9 | (803) 205-4005 |
| Clear Dot Charter School | K-12 | 474 | 11.3 | (803) 567-3075 |
| SC Whitmore SchoolFully online | 9-12 | 431 | 28.7 | (803) 476-6416 |
| Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy | 2-8 | 216 | 9.4 | (803) 900-0664 |
| Carolina School for Inquiry | PK-6 | 114 | 9.5 | (803) 691-1250 |
| Richland One Charter Middle College | 11-12 | 106 | 23.6 | (803) 738-7114 |
| Arts Innovation and Media Middle College (AIM High) | 9-10 | new in 2025-26 | (708) 714-1189 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (3)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Point Academy | PK-8 | 724 | 13.2 | 1043 Chris Drive | 12 | (803) 926-5180 |
| Midlands Middle College | 10-12 | 115 | 17.4 | West Columbia | 14 | (803) 822-3333 |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | 6-12 | 935 | 24.9 | West Columbia | 14 | (803) 951-3321 |
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 Columbia?
8 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Columbia, and 3 more are within 15 miles. SC Connections Academy, Carolus Online Academy, Clear Dot Charter School, SC Whitmore School, Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy, Carolina School for Inquiry and others.
Do charter schools in Columbia 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 Columbia 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.