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Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Public Charter School Enrollment

(Last Updated: May 2021)
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Between fall 2009 and fall 2018, overall public charter school enrollment increased from 1.6 million students to 3.3 million students. During this period, the percentage of public school students who attended charter schools increased from 3 to 7 percent.

A public charter school is a publicly funded school that is typically governed by a group or organization under a legislative contract—a charter—with the state, the district, or another entity. The charter exempts the school from certain state or local rules and regulations. In return for flexibility and autonomy, the charter school must meet the accountability standards outlined in its charter. A school’s charter is reviewed periodically by the entity that granted it, and can be revoked if guidelines on curriculum and management are not followed or if the accountability standards are not met.1 Between school years 2009–10 and 2018–19, the number of public charter schools in the United States (defined in this indicator as the 50 states and the District of Columbia) increased from approximately 5,000 to 7,400 while the number of traditional public schools decreased from 93,900 to 91,300. As a result of these concurrent trends, the percentage of all public schools that were charter schools increased from 5 to 8 percent.

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Level of institution Racial composition Size Socioeconomic status (SES) State Time series
Figure 1. Public charter school enrollment, by school level: Fall 2009 through fall 2018
Figure 1. Public charter school enrollment, by school level: Fall 2009 through fall 2018

NOTE: Data in this figure represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. “Elementary” includes schools beginning with grade 6 or below and with no grade higher than 8. “Secondary” includes schools with no grade lower than 7. “Combined elementary/secondary” includes schools beginning with grade 6 or below and ending with grade 9 or above. Other schools not classified by grade span are included in the “All charter schools” count but are not presented separately in the figure.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,” 2009–10 through 2018–19. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, table 216.20.

Figure 2. Percentage of all public school students enrolled in public charter schools, by state: Fall 2018
Figure 2. Percentage of all public school students enrolled in public charter schools, by state: Fall 2018

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: U.S. average in this figure represents the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Categorizations are based on unrounded percentages.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,” 2018–19. See Digest of Education Statistics 2020, table 216.90.

Figure 3. Percentage distribution of public charter school students, by race/ethnicity: Fall 2009 and fall 2018
Figure 3. Percentage distribution of public charter school students, by race/ethnicity: Fall 2009 and fall 2018

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Data in this figure represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,” 2009–10 and 2018–19. See Digest of Education Statistics 2016 and 2020, table 216.30.

Figure 4. Percentage distribution of public charter schools, by enrollment size: School years 2009–10 and 2018–19
Figure 4. Percentage distribution of public charter schools, by enrollment size: School years 2009–10 and 2018–19

NOTE: Data in this figure represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,” 2009–10 and 2018–19. See Digest of Education Statistics 2016 and 2020, table 216.30.


1 Rafa, A., Erwin, B., Kelly, B., and Wixom, M.A. (2020). 50-State Comparison: Charter School Policies. Denver, CO: Education Commission of the States. Retrieved October 8, 2020, from https://www.ecs.org/charter-school-policies/.

2 Finnigan, K., Adelman, N., Anderson, L., Cotton, L., Donnelly, M.B., and Price, T. (2004). Evaluation of the Public Charter Schools Program: Final Report. U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Deputy Secretary. Washington, DC: Policy and Program Studies Service. Retrieved October 8, 2020, from https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/choice/pcsp-final/finalreport.pdf.

3 Rafa, A., Erwin, B., Kelly, B., and Wixom, M.A. (2020). 50-State Comparison: Charter School Policies. Denver, CO: Education Commission of the States. Retrieved October 8, 2020, from https://www.ecs.org/charter-school-policies/.

4 The percentage of public charter school students who were Asian increased from 3.8 percent in fall 2009 to 4.1 percent in fall 2018.

5 The percentage of public charter school students who were American Indian/Alaska Native decreased from 1.0 percent in fall 2009 to 0.8 percent in fall 2018.

6 Includes students whose National School Lunch Program (NSLP) eligibility has been determined through direct certification.

7 In fall 2018, some 5 percent of public charter school students and less than 1 percent of traditional public school students attended schools that did not participate in FRPL or had missing data.

Supplemental Information

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Table 216.20 (Digest 2020): Number and enrollment of public elementary and secondary schools, by school level, type, and charter, magnet, and virtual status: Selected years, 1990-91 through 2018-19;
Table 216.30 (Digest 2020): Number and percentage distribution of public elementary and secondary students and schools, by traditional or charter school status and selected characteristics: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2018-19;
Table 216.90 (Digest 2020): Public elementary and secondary charter schools and enrollment, and charter schools and enrollment as a percentage of total public schools and total enrollment in public schools, by state: Selected years, 2000-01 through 2018-19;
Table 216.20 (Digest 2019): Number and enrollment of public elementary and secondary schools, by school level, type, and charter, magnet, and virtual status: Selected years, 1990-91 through 2017-18;
Table 216.30 (Digest 2019): Number and percentage distribution of public elementary and secondary students and schools, by traditional or charter school status and selected characteristics: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2017-18;
Table 216.20 (Digest 2018): Number and enrollment of public elementary and secondary schools, by school level, type, and charter, magnet, and virtual status: Selected years, 1990-91 through 2016-17;
Table 216.30 (Digest 2018): Number and percentage distribution of public elementary and secondary students and schools, by traditional or charter school status and selected characteristics: Selected years, 2000-01 through 2016-17;
Table 216.20 (Digest 2017): Number and enrollment of public elementary and secondary schools, by school level, type, and charter and magnet status: Selected years, 1990-91 through 2015-16;
Table 216.30 (Digest 2017): Number and percentage distribution of public elementary and secondary students and schools, by traditional or charter school status and selected characteristics: Selected years, 2000-01 through 2015-16;
Table 216.90 (Digest 2017): Public elementary and secondary charter schools and enrollment, by state: Selected years, 2000-01 through 2015-16;
Table 216.30 (Digest 2016): Number and percentage distribution of public elementary and secondary students and schools, by traditional or charter school status and selected characteristics: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2014-15;
Table 216.90 (Digest 2016): Public elementary and secondary charter schools and enrollment, by state: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2014-15;
Table 216.90 (Digest 2015): Public elementary and secondary charter schools and enrollment, by state: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2013-14;
Table 216.90 (Digest 2014): Public elementary and secondary charter schools and enrollment, by state: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2012-13;
Table 216.90 (Digest 2013): Public elementary and secondary charter schools and enrollment, by state: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2011-12
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Charter School Enrollment - January 2013
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