Looking for Charter Schools in Wake County?
Did you know there are 26 Wake County Charter Schools?! In addition to the hundreds of public and magnet schools, this can be a lot to understand and research. Let’s talk about what charter schools are, their pros and cons, and look at a complete list for the Raleigh area.
What is a Charter School?
Charter schools receive public funding and are tuition-free for students. They are governed by a group or organization under a legislative contract—a charter—with the State of NC. This agreement between the state and the charter school allows the school to have increased flexibility and autonomy while also being required to meet the accountability standards as set by the state. These agreements (or charters) are periodically reviewed by the state and can be revoked if the conditions of the charter are not met.
Public Charter Schools in North Carolina- What you Need to Know
These regulations are true for Wake County Charter Schools, but also for all charter schools in North Carolina.
- Primarily funded through state and local tax dollars
- Have open enrollment and are not allowed to discriminate in admissions, charge tuition, or be affiliated with a religion or religious group.
- Serve diverse student populations, including students with disabilities, English language learners, and those from various socio-economic backgrounds (just as public schools do)
- Required to participate in North Carolina’s accountability program, administer end-of-grade and end-of course tests, and provide data needed for NC School Report Cards.
- At least 50% of teachers must hold teacher licenses. All teachers who are teaching in the core subject areas of mathematics, science, social studies and language arts must be college graduates. (This differs from public schools where teachers are required to be licensed or pursuing license at time of hire)
- Are not required to provide transportation to students. In NC’s 2022 report, 55% of charter schools provide bus transportation.
- Are not required to provide free and reduced price lunches for students living in poverty. In the 2022-2023 school year, 82 charter schools participated in the National School Lunch Program.
Reasons Why People like Charter Schools
- Innovation and Flexibility: Charter schools have the freedom to develop their own curriculum and teaching methods, which can be beneficial in meeting the needs of diverse student populations. While they are still required to meet state academic standards, they have more flexibility in how they achieve these standards compared to traditional public schools, which often follow district-prescribed curricula.
- Parental Choice: Charter schools offer parents an alternative to traditional public schools, providing them with more options to select an educational environment that aligns with their child’s learning style and values.
- Small Class Sizes and Personalized Learning: Many charter schools emphasize smaller class sizes and individualized attention, though this is not universal.
- Addressing Specific Needs: Some Wake County charter schools specialize in serving specific communities or addressing particular educational needs, such as language immersion programs, arts-focused curricula, or STEM education.
Reasons Why Some People Dislike Charter Schools
- Shifting funds from local schools: Because charter schools are funded through public entities and tax dollars, critics argue that they take money and potential resources away from local public schools. Additionally, charter schools do not have to provide transportation to school, nor are they required to provide free/reduced lunch to qualified students.
- Lack of Accountability: Critics argue that because charter schools are run by appointed boards (versus an elected school board) and they are exempt from many of the requirements of traditional public schools, this leads to a lack of transparency and accountability. Charter schools are governed by independent boards that are not elected by public vote and in NC, board members don’t even have to live in the state.
- Variable Quality and Performance: The performance of charter schools varies widely, with some achieving remarkable success while others struggle academically or face financial mismanagement. North Carolina Charter Schools only have to have 50% of their teachers licensed.
- Potential for Exclusionary Practices: While NC charter schools have open enrollment policies, they may prioritize certain groups of students (for example, siblings or children of board members) which can lead to concerns about equity and access compared to traditional public schools, which are required to serve all students within their attendance boundaries. Additionally, charter school families often face the financial burden of paying for uniforms (required at some charters), transportation, and lunches.
List of Charter Schools in Wake County
Raleigh Charter Schools
The Exploris School (K-8)
Central Wake High (9th-12th)
Doral Academy of NC (K-6)
Magellan Charter (3rd-8th)
Quest Academy (K-8)
Raleigh Charter High School (9th-12th)
Raleigh Oak Charter (K-8)
PreEminent Charter (K-8)
RISE Southeast Raleigh (K-8)
Morrisville/Cary Charter Schools
Sterling Montessori Academy (PreK-8th)
Cardinal Charter (K-8)
Triangle Math & Science Academy of Cary (K-12)
Apex Charter Schools
Peak Charter Academy (K-8)
The Math & Science Academy of Apex (K-12)
Wake Forest Charter Schools
Holly Springs Charter Schools
Southern Wake Academy (6th-12th)
Pine Springs Prep (Online) (K-11)
Carolina Charter Academy (K-8)
East Wake Charter Schools
Cardinal Charter Academy at Wendell Falls (K-8)
East Wake Academy (K-12)
Need a List of Charters Beyond Wake County?
To see a complete list of charter schools in the Triangle area, including Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding areas, check out our full Charter Schools List here.