We often highlight charter school facts and figures in North Carolina, and for good reason! Our state has a thriving, growing charter sector with new and innovative schools opening every year. In fact, five new charter schools are poised to open their doors to students next month.
(You can see some of the latest data on NC K-12 enrollment in Coalition blog posts here and here.)
But, as we draw closer to the start of a new school year, how is the nation’s charter movement faring overall? According to the most recent figures, the charter sector continues to attract families in states across the nation, with over 3.7 million students enrolled in charter schools. We include data below from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Charter schools nationwide, by the numbers
- 3.7 million: Students enrolled in charter schools
- 8,150: Number of charter schools
- 251,000: Number of charter school teachers
- 45*: States serving charter school students
Recent trends also point to growing demand. Charter enrollment has increased 12% nationwide over the past five years, according to the Alliance.
Access the Alliance’s charter dashboard here.
Here’s the national map of the states that permit charter schools (green) and those that do not (gray).
*Forty-six states have passed laws permitting charter schools. North Dakota passed a charter law in 2025, but the state does not have schools in operation yet. Vermont, South Dakota, and Nebraska do not allow charter schools. Kentucky did pass a law permitting charter schools, but the state Supreme Court overturned that law in a 2026 ruling. Read more about the Kentucky court ruling in The Hill; see a statement from the Alliance.)
Map graphic courtesy of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Shutterstock photo above.
