Charter schools in Mcallen, TX
10 schools in Mcallen, 39 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Mcallen charter schools at a glance
10 public charter schools give Mcallen as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 39 more are within 15 miles. The 10 in town had about 4,910 students in 2024-25. 4 teach elementary grades and 6 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Mcallen (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA Mcallen College Preparatory | 6-12 | 820 | 16.9 | (956) 429-4100 |
| IDEA Los Encinos Academy | K-5 | 770 | 24.4 | (956) 429-4150 |
| IDEA Los Encinos College Preparatory | 6-12 | 753 | 17.7 | (956) 429-4150 |
| IDEA Mcallen Academy | K-5 | 738 | 21.4 | (956) 429-4100 |
| IDEA Tres Lagos Academy | K-5 | 695 | 22.7 | (956) 287-6900 |
| IDEA Tres Lagos College Preparatory | 6-12 | 685 | 16.4 | (956) 287-6900 |
| Horizon Montessori - STEM Academy | PK-8 | 331 | 15.2 | (956) 631-0234 |
| Triumph Public High Schools-Mcallen | 9-12 | 118 | 16.9 | (956) 618-2308 |
| Premier H S - Mcallen | 9-12 | new in 2025-26 | (956) 374-4796 | |
| Texasworks - Mcallen | 9-12 | new in 2025-26 | (956) 584-8458 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (39)
Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.
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 Mission (5 mi)
- Charter schools in Pharr (5 mi)
- Charter schools in San Juan (6 mi)
- Charter schools in Alamo (9 mi)
- Charter schools in Edinburg (9 mi)
- Charter schools in Weslaco (17 mi)
- Charter schools in Mercedes (21 mi)
- Charter schools in Harlingen (34 mi)
- Charter schools in San Benito (38 mi)
- All charter schools in Texas
- Private schools in McAllen (listed separately)
- What Texas pays toward private school
- Charter schools in every state
Questions parents ask
How many charter schools are in Mcallen?
10 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Mcallen, and 39 more are within 15 miles. IDEA Mcallen College Preparatory, IDEA Los Encinos Academy, IDEA Los Encinos College Preparatory, IDEA Mcallen Academy, IDEA Tres Lagos Academy, IDEA Tres Lagos College Preparatory and others.
Do charter schools in Mcallen 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 Mcallen 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.