How Many Charter Schools Are There in the United States?

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Overview of Charter Schools in the US

  • In the 2021/22 school year, there were 7,847 charter schools throughout the United States.
  • Charter schools are publicly funded schools allowed greater flexibility and autonomy than traditional public schools in exchange for increased accountability.
  • They operate according to a “charter” detailing the school’s mission, academic goals, and accountability measures.

Establishment and Oversight of Charter Schools

  • The concept of charter schools emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
  • Public charter schools are overseen by an authorizer responsible for ensuring they meet charter goals.
  • If they determine a charter school does not meet stated goals, they can shut it down.

Statewide Presence of Charter Schools

  • 43 states and the District of Columbia had enacted charter school laws as of 2015.
  • Currently, 45 states and the District of Columbia have charter school laws.
  • The seven states that do not have charter school laws are Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Enrollment and Impact of Charter Schools

  • Public charter schools currently serve 3.7 million students in 8,000 schools and campuses.
  • During the 2021-22 school year, charter schools enrolled 7.4% of all public school students, up from 6.8% in 2019-20.

Comparison with Traditional Public Schools

  • Charter schools are public schools that operate under a charter to reach specific educational goals.
  • They still follow certain public school rules, like free tuition and no religious affiliation.

Distribution and Growth of Charter Schools

  • California has the most charter schools, with 1,224 schools in the 2015-16 school year.
  • Between 2010 and 2020, the number of US public charter schools increased from about 5,000 to 7,600.
  • In the locations that authorize charter schools, Washington, DC, had the largest share of public schools that were chartered (51%), followed by Arizona (24%).

Charter School Education

  • Charter schools aim to provide an alternative educational program that offers a different approach to meeting students’ specific educational needs.
  • Students are encouraged to study at their own pace under the charter school system.

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