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Charter schools in Houston, TX

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

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Houston charter schools at a glance

178 public charter schools give Houston as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 4 more are within 15 miles. The 178 in town had about 96,723 students in 2024-25. 102 teach elementary grades and 68 teach high school. 2 are mostly or fully online. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

96,723 students, 2024-25
68 high schools
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: KIPP Texas Public Schools (29), Yes Prep Public Schools Inc (26), Harmony Public Schools - Houston North (8), International Leadership of Texas (iltexas) (7), Harmony Public Schools - Houston South (6). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Houston (178)

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
Texas Connections Academy at HoustonFully online 3-12 8,641 30.9 (281) 661-8293
SST Champions PK-12 1,660 16.8 (210) 893-0802
Harmony School of Excellence-Houston K-8 1,165 16.3 (713) 983-8668
KIPP Mosaic Pri PK-5 1,092 25 (281) 879-3110
KIPP Sharp Prep PK-5 1,078 23.7 (281) 879-3000
Yes Prep - Southwest 6-12 1,060 18.4 (713) 967-9200
KIPP Connect Houston Pri PK-5 1,056 23.6 (281) 879-3023
Yes Prep - Brays Oaks 6-12 1,051 17.9 (713) 967-8400
KIPP Unity Pri PK-5 1,050 22.8 (832) 230-0572
Yes Prep - Gulfton 6-12 1,039 17 (713) 967-9800
Beta Academy PK-5 1,032 22.8 (832) 331-2460
Yes Prep - East End 6-12 1,014 15.8 (713) 967-7800
Yes Prep - Northline 6-12 1,004 16.8 (713) 842-5400
Yes Prep - North Central 6-12 1,002 17.2 (713) 967-8800
Yes Prep North Forest 6-12 991 16 (713) 967-8699
Yes Prep - West 6-12 990 16.3 (713) 967-8200
KIPP Connect Preparatory 6-12 979 20.2 (281) 879-3023
Houston Gateway Academy - Coral Campus PK-12 961 24.1 (713) 923-5060
Yes Prep - Northside 6-12 948 15.9 (713) 924-0400
Yes Prep - White Oak 6-12 942 16.9 (713) 924-5200
Yes Prep - Northwest 6-12 940 15.3 (713) 842-5510
Yes Prep - 5TH Ward 6-12 933 15.7 (713) 924-0600
KIPP Dream Prep PK-4 929 23.8 (832) 230-0566
KIPP Shine Prep PK-4 920 23.6 (832) 230-0548
Nci Charter School Without Walls PK-K 891 20.3 (713) 273-3250
Westchester Academy for International Studies 6-12 864 13.7 (713) 251-1800
North Central El PK-5 863 17.4 (713) 842-5650
Yes Prep - Southside 6-12 860 14.9 (713) 924-5500
Harmony School of Discovery - Houston 6-12 858 15.8 (281) 861-5105
Energized for Excellence Academy El K-5 857 27.7 (713) 773-3600
Yes Prep - Southeast 6-12 854 15.3 (713) 967-9400
Iltexas Westpark El PK-5 852 15.2 (346) 203-4126
Iltexas Houston Orem El PK-5 837 16.8 (713) 987-9435
Iltexas Houston Windmill Lakes Orem H S 9-12 837 15.3 (832) 649-6817
KIPP Legacy Preparatory PK-4 820 21.1 (832) 230-0567
Southeast El PK-5 816 16.4 (713) 842-5555
KIPP Sharpstown College Prep 6-12 789 21.6 (281) 879-3005
KIPP Mosaic Academy School 6-11 788 22.5 (281) 879-3110
KIPP Zenith Academy PK-4 780 23.7 (832) 230-0562
North Forest El PK-5 772 16 (713) 924-5600
KIPP Explore Academy PK-4 756 20.5 (832) 230-0547
Harmony School of Advancement-Houston 9-12 752 16.8 (281) 741-8899
Harmony Science Academy-Houston 9-12 750 16 (713) 492-0214
Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology-Houston K-8 742 15.6 (832) 433-7001
KIPP Nexus Pri PK-4 739 21.3 (832) 230-0553
Academy of Accelerated Learning PK-8 738 17 (713) 645-0336
Iltexas Houston Windmill Lakes El PK-5 736 14.9 (713) 944-4334
IDEA Spears Academy K-5 728 23.5 (832) 366-1309
Harmony School of Ingenuity-Houston 6-12 727 15.4 (713) 664-1020
George I Sanchez Charter PK-12 726 20.8 (713) 926-1112
IDEA Lake Houston Academy K-5 719 23 (832) 844-4700
IDEA Hardy Academy K-5 705 23 (832) 360-7453
Harmony School of Technology-Houston 6-8 703 17 (281) 444-1555
Draw Academy PK-8 696 29.4 (713) 706-3729
Harmony School of Achievement - Houston K-5 694 18.4 (281) 855-2500
Harmony School of Exploration- Houston PK-5 687 13.1 (832) 831-7406
Yes Prep - Hobby 6-12 685 16.2 (713) 842-5600
KIPP Climb Academy PK-4 679 19 (832) 230-0578
Etoile Academy Charter School K-8 676 16.7 (713) 995-1612
Southside El PK-5 675 14.4 (713) 924-5300
Harmony School of Enrichment - Houston K-5 664 16.7 (281) 999-0606
Harmony Science Academy - Cypress K-5 656 16 (713) 258-1641
SST Advancement PK-7 646 17.8 (832) 288-2523
KIPP Houston H S 9-12 642 18.3 (832) 328-1051
IDEA Hardy College Preparatory 6-11 635 18.1 (832) 360-7453
Yes Prep Airline El PK-5 632 14.1 (713) 924-0700
KIPP East End H S 9-12 625 16.9 (281) 879-3100
KIPP Sunnyside H S 9-12 622 17.3 (832) 230-0562
IDEA Spears College Preparatory 6-11 617 20.2 (832) 366-1309
KIPP Generations Collegiate 9-12 614 15.7 (832) 230-0566
KIPP Northeast College Preparatory 9-12 614 16.6 (832) 230-0567
Houston Gateway Academy PK-8 613 18 (713) 649-2706
Yes Prep East End El PK-5 607 16.3 (713) 924-0800
Westchase Neighborhood School PK-8 595 16.9 (972) 316-3663
Houston Gateway Academy Inc Elite College Prep PK-8 583 21.5 (713) 644-8292
Harmony School of Endeavor-Houston K-8 561 14.9 (281) 999-8400
Beatrice Mayes Institute Charter School K-8 558 15.6 (713) 747-5629
Beta Academy 6-12 537 22.9 (346) 385-0203
KIPP Spirit College Prep 5-8 532 26.6 (832) 230-0562
Varnett Charter School PK-8 530 19.1 (713) 723-4699
Southwest Public Schools Int'l Leadership Academy PK-5 526 77 (713) 988-5839
KIPP Peace El PK-4 525 21.9 (832) 230-0564
Amigos Por Vida-Friends for Life Charter School PK-5 524 18.1 (713) 349-9945
Energized for STEM Academy H S 9-12 520 27.5 (713) 394-3550
Energized for Excellence Academy Inc Middle 6-8 515 32.2 (713) 773-3600
KIPP 3D Academy 5-8 513 26.4 (832) 230-0566
Ser-Ninos Charter El PK-5 512 17.8 (713) 667-6145
Aristoi Classical Academy-Cypress K-10 511 15.6 (281) 391-5003
KIPP Intrepid Preparatory 5-8 509 22.6 (281) 879-3100
KIPP Academy Middle 5-8 508 24.5 (832) 328-1051
IDEA Lake Houston College Preparatory 6-10 499 18.9 (832) 844-4700
Harmony School of Innovation - Houston 6-8 497 14.3 (713) 541-3030
Southwest Public Schools Visual & Perf Arts Acad PK-5 487 81.2 (713) 688-0505
Pstem Academy PK-5 482 19.2 (713) 640-3700
Southwest Public Schools College &career Prep Acad 9-12 462 285.2 (713) 954-9528
KIPP Prime College Preparatory 5-8 453 20.6 (832) 230-0578
Iltexas Houston Windmill Lakes Middle 6-8 449 17.9 (713) 944-4334
Yes Prep Southwest Oaks El PK-3 447 16.2 (713) 842-5700
Iltexas Westpark Middle 6-8 440 16.4 (346) 203-4126
Ischool High at University Park 6-12 433 22.9 (972) 316-3663
KIPP Nexus Middle 5-8 432 18.5 (832) 230-0553
Cornerstone Academy 6-8 423 15 (713) 251-1600
Iltexas Houston Orem Middle 6-8 410 17.1 (713) 987-9435
Texans Can Academy - Houston Southwest 9-12 410 28.3 (281) 918-4316
KIPP Liberation College Preparatory 5-8 405 18.7 (832) 230-0564
Baker-Ripley Charter School PK-5 398 15.7 (713) 273-3731
George I Sanchez North K-12 394 19 (713) 742-0374
KIPP Voyage Academy for Girls 5-8 368 17.9 (832) 230-0567
Alief Montessori Community School PK-8 367 19.6 (281) 530-9406
The Varnett School - Northeast PK-8 354 15.9 (713) 631-4396
Houston Classical PK-6 342 19.7 (713) 748-9626
KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys 5-8 341 16.7 (832) 230-0567
Energized for STEM Academy Middle 6-8 335 37.2 (713) 773-3600
Step Charter II K-8 324 16.1 (281) 988-7797
Ripley House Charter School PK-5 322 16.3 (713) 315-6413
Yellowstone College Preparatory 6-11 321 14.6 (713) 655-0596
Early College T-STEM Academy 9-12 303 14.2 (713) 640-3700
Etoile Academy Charter School-Bissonnet K-8 303 16.2 (346) 612-0126
Bloom Academy Charter School K-5 302 21.3 (346) 333-1320
Meyerpark El PK-8 296 14.3 (713) 729-9712
Step Charter El K-8 293 15.1 (281) 988-7797
Southwest Public Schools Lead &global Studies Acad 6-8 284 77.4 (713) 954-9528
Early College STEM Academy 6-8 275 14.2 (713) 640-3700
The Varnett School - East PK-6 275 15.1 (713) 637-6574
Ser-Ninos Charter Middle 6-8 266 16 (713) 592-6055
Yes Prep North Rankin El PK-3 262 12.8 (713) 842-5511
Harmony Virtual AcademyFully online K-12 260 14.4 (713) 729-5500
Harmony Science Academy - Midland PK-7 257 18 (915) 626-5086
Texans Can Academy - Houston North 9-12 254 42.3 (713) 659-4226
Ser-Ninos Charter El II PK-5 246 22.5 (713) 432-9400
The Rhodes School - Humble PK-8 236 11.9 (281) 319-9300
The Lawson Academy PK-8 235 19.3 (713) 225-1551
Friends for Life Middle 6-8 226 15.1 (713) 349-9945
The Pro-Vision Academy 9-12 212 20.9 (713) 748-0030
Ignite Community School - Fallbrook K-8 208 15.2 (972) 316-3663
Two Dimensions/vickery PK-5 203 16.9 (281) 987-7300
Elevate Collegiate PK-5 192 21.3 (346) 234-1434
Energized for Excellence Academy Ecc PK 192 21.3 (713) 773-3600
Houston Heights Charter School 9-12 192 11.2 (713) 868-9797
Yes Prep Hobby El PK-3 186 10.1 (713) 842-5550
Ser-Ninos Charter High 9-12 169 12.6 (713) 667-6145
Harris County Juvenile Detention Center 5-12 165 11.1 (713) 222-4354
Ripley House Middle Campus 6-8 164 15.1 (713) 315-6480
Accelerated Interdisciplinary Acad PK-6 161 19.4 (713) 728-9330
Richard Milburn Academy Houston (suburban) 9-12 157 27.1 (281) 209-3505
Paul David Castro Middle 6-8 156 30.1 (713) 204-3837
Brazos School for Inquiry and Creativity Tidwell PK-6 151 13.9 (713) 681-1960
Ischool High - Atascocita 9-12 148 24.7 (281) 247-5801
Two Dimensions Preparatory Academy PK-5 144 16 (281) 440-8853
Arrow Academy - Harvest Preparatory Academy K-6 141 12.8 (832) 446-3138
Pro-Vision Middle 6-8 140 20 (713) 748-0030
North East STEM Academy 6-8 133 19 (713) 640-3700
Premier H S-Houston (champions) 9-12 109 16.3 (972) 316-3663
Premier H S Houston Gallery North 9-12 108 21.6 (713) 489-9040
Phoenix School at Southwest Schools 4-12 107 (713) 784-6345
Premier H S - Houston - Hobby 9-12 97 22.4 (713) 338-0020
Premier H S - Houston (sharpstown) 9-12 91 35.1 (713) 347-1002
Step Charter III K-4 76 10.3 (713) 636-9918
Leonel Castillo Early Childhood STEM Academy PK-K 69 23 (713) 640-3700
Premier H S - Houston (greenspoint) 9-12 60 20 (972) 316-3663
The Opportunity Center 9-11 58 11.6 (713) 222-4577
Dianne Johnson H S 9-11 47 12.1 (713) 955-7557
Up Excellence Academy PK-6 36 6 (281) 414-3974
New Neighbor Campus PK 33 17.7 (713) 273-3731
Accelerated Int Charter School 7-8 21 11.7 (713) 728-9330
Ki Charter - Kingwood 4-12 21 7.6 (210) 705-9914
Texasworks - Houston-Gallery Furniture 9-12 17 (281) 816-4114
Texasworks - Houston-Champions 9-12 12 12 (832) 645-5275
Texasworks - Houston-Hobby 9-12 5 (713) 338-0020
Bob Hope School - Cy Fair PK-3 new in 2025-26 (409) 983-3244
Elite College Prep Academy - Riverstone PK-5 new in 2025-26 (281) 670-9777
Heritage Classical Academy School K-1 new in 2025-26 (346) 800-7132
Nexus - Houston K-11 new in 2025-26 (832) 232-8872
Ryss Early Childhood STEM Academy at Ost PK-K new in 2025-26 (713) 640-3700
Sun Behavioral Health 7-12 new in 2025-26 (832) 232-8872
Texasworks - Houston (sharpstown) 9-12 new in 2025-26 (713) 347-1002
Yes Prep Brays Oaks El PK-2 new in 2025-26 (713) 967-9450
Yes Prep White Oak El PK-2 new in 2025-26 (713) 967-9500

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
Texans Can Academy - Houston Hobby 9-12 322 22.7 Dallas 12 (832) 379-4226
Richard Milburn Academy Pasadena 9-12 123 15.3 Pasadena 13 (832) 730-4570
Ignite Community School - Humble PK-6 219 18.5 Humble 14 (972) 316-3663
Arrow Academy - Liberation Academy K-6 190 11.9 Meadows Place 15 (346) 754-5867

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 Houston?

178 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Houston, and 4 more are within 15 miles. Texas Connections Academy at Houston, SST Champions, Harmony School of Excellence-Houston, KIPP Mosaic Pri, KIPP Sharp Prep, Yes Prep - Southwest and others.

Do charter schools in Houston 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 Houston 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