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Charter schools in Harlingen, TX

4 schools in Harlingen, 4 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Harlingen charter schools at a glance

4 public charter schools give Harlingen as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 4 more are within 15 miles. The 4 in town had about 1,776 students in 2024-25. 3 teach elementary grades and 1 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

1,776 students, 2024-25
1 high schools
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: IDEA Public Schools (4), Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley (2). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Harlingen (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
IDEA Harlingen Academy K-5 651 21 (956) 377-8000
IDEA Harlingen College Preparatory 6-11 457 13.1 (956) 272-3912
Jubilee Harlingen PK-8 377 17.1 (956) 708-2030
Horizon Montessori III - STEM Academy PK-8 291 15 (956) 423-8200

Nearby, within 15 miles (4)

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
IDEA San Benito Academy K-5 685 19 San Benito 3 (956) 399-5252
IDEA San Benito College Preparatory 6-12 780 16.6 San Benito 3 (956) 399-5252
Triumph Public High Schools-San Benito 9-12 108 16.8 San Benito 4 (956) 276-9930
Triumph Public High Schools-Mercedes 9-12 109 22.1 Mercedes 14 (956) 565-5417

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 Harlingen?

4 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Harlingen, and 4 more are within 15 miles. IDEA Harlingen Academy, IDEA Harlingen College Preparatory, Jubilee Harlingen, Horizon Montessori III - STEM Academy.

Do charter schools in Harlingen 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 Harlingen 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