NC Coalition for Charter Schools

08/18/2026

🎉 Ten public charter schools made the Top 30 Best High Schools in North Carolina list, just released by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-27!

🏆 No. 5: Raleigh Charter High School (Wake County)
🏆 No. 10: Woods Charter School (Chatham County)
🏆 No. 12: The North Carolina Leadership Academy (Forsyth County)
🏆 No. 15: TMSA Triangle Cary (Wake County)
🏆 No. 18: Lake Norman Charter School (Mecklenburg County)
🏆 No. 20: Research Triangle High School (Durham County)
🏆 No. 21: Pine Lake Preparatory (Iredell County)
🏆 No. 27: Gray Stone Day School (Stanly County)
🏆 No. 28: Henderson Collegiate (Vance County)
🏆 No. 29: Franklin Academy Charter School (Wake County)

Public charter schools complement, rather than compete with, traditional public schools. They offer parents something they desire: an array of options for their children's schooling.

Congratulations to these outstanding public charter schools, and especially their students and faculty.

Join us in celebrating these incredible schools, students, and educators! 👏

08/07/2026

🎉 Big news for existing NC charter schools! Great Schools North Carolina is launching its next School Quality Cohort grant cycle -- and applications open August 19!

This 18-month opportunity is designed for charter leaders ready to identify specific levers of change and implement lasting improvements at their schools. Selected leaders will receive:

✅ Up to $150,000 in funding for school improvement efforts
✅ Personalized coaching aligned to your school's goals
✅ Access to expert partners and technical assistance
✅ A community of charter leaders learning together
✅ Support building a strategic action plan for stronger student outcomes

📅 Applications open: August 19 - September 8
📝 Info Session: August 18 at 4pm - register to learn more
☕ Office Hours: August 26-28, 10-11am - get your questions answered

If you're a charter school leader looking to build on what's working and tackle persistent challenges head-on, this is worth a look. Read more and access GSNC's flyer on our blog:

Great Schools NC is launching its next school quality grant cycle on August 19. This grant is for existing charter schools. Check it out!

08/04/2026

*A look behind the scenes: how policy provisions make their way into a state budget*

North Carolina's new state budget includes two provisions the Coalition has been advocating for over the past year:

✅ EC Funding -- DPI will allocate $4.1 million to charter schools that didn't receive full per-pupil funding for students with disabilities who enrolled in the first 60 days of the 2025–2026 school year. The budget also puts a process in place aimed at preventing this kind of shortfall going forward.

✅ Audit Deadlines -- Charter schools will now have a minimum of six months after the fiscal year ends to submit financial audits, bringing their timeline in line with traditional public schools.

Getting there took time: the Coalition advocated on behalf of member schools to House and Senate Education Budget Chairs for consideration. DPI raised questions along the way, which our team worked through. From April through the end of session, we stayed in touch with Budget Chairs and legislative leadership as the budget came together.

Ultimately, it was the General Assembly's decision to include these provisions in the final budget -- and we're grateful to the lawmakers and staff who gave them serious consideration!

📖 Full recap:

What does it take to get charter-friendly provisions in the state budget? Check out the behind-the-scenes work of Coalition lobbyists.

07/30/2026

🎉 Congratulations to three students from Pinnacle Classical Academy, a K-12 public charter school in Shelby and proud Coalition member, on representing their school at North Carolina Girls State and Boys State this summer!

Adrianna Hayes, August Terry, and Mason Kistler spent a week diving into how government works, from campaign speeches to hands-on civic participation, all while building leadership skills and making lifelong friends.

Here's what Adrianna had to say about the experience: "Being able to stand at a podium and give a campaign speech was a huge step out of my comfort zone, but it was the coolest thing ever... It's more than having fun -- you learn so many new things you wouldn't have if you never took this chance."

Programs like Girls State and Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and American Legion, are a fantastic example of the leadership opportunities charter schools help open up for students. Congratulations, Adrianna, August, and Mason -- we're proud of you!👏

Congratulations to three students from Pinnacle Classical Academy, who participated in Girls and Boys State this summer!

07/23/2026

The numbers are in, and they tell a great story for public charter schools – both here in North Carolina and across the country! 🎉

Nationwide, more than 3.7 million students now attend one of 8,150 charter schools, taught by roughly 251,000 teachers, across 45 states. And the momentum keeps building: charter enrollment has grown 12% over just the last five years, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Here in NC, that same growth is happening in real time – five new charter schools are set to open their doors to students next month! It's clear that families across the country continue to see public charter schools as a great option for their kids.

Nationwide, trends and data point to the same thing: Public charter schools continue to be a popular option for families across the states.

07/20/2026

Attention Raleigh parents! Join the John Locke Foundation for their FREE Back 2 School Launch Party on Saturday, August 8, from 9 AM–12 PM in Raleigh!

Bring the whole family for a morning of free school supplies (while they last), inflatables, music, snow cones, games, and activities for kids of all ages. No registration needed – just show up and join the fun!

While you're there, learn more about JLF's work expanding educational opportunity through school choice and other policies that help NC students and families thrive.

👉 Learn more:

Kick off the new school year with the John Locke Foundation at our FREE Back 2 School Launch Party! Bring the whole family for a fun-filled morning

07/14/2026

New data from the state's Division of Non-Public Education shows private school enrollment up 6.1% this year, while the latest charter schools report shows public charter enrollment grew 4.9% – now representing more than 10% of all public school students in NC. Meanwhile, homeschool enrollment dipped 7.5%, and traditional public school enrollment slipped 1.8%.

What does it add up to? Families are choosing the setting that works best for their child.

Whether that's a charter school, a private school, or the traditional public school down the road, parents deserve a choice in their children's K-12 education.

New numbers from the NC Division of Non-Public Education reveal growing private school enrollment, declining home school enrollment.

06/29/2026

Big news for North Carolina families! 🎓

The U.S. Treasury Department released preview guidance on the new federal education tax credit, and it includes some important details for charter school families here in NC.

Here’s what we know so far:
✅ Public, private, charter, religious, and home schools are all included
✅ Scholarships can be used for tutoring, uniforms, equipment, and support services
✅ Eligible families can qualify through income verification or participation in needs-based government programs
✅ Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) must spend at least 90% of income on scholarships

North Carolina opted in when the General Assembly overrode Governor Stein’s veto of House Bill 87, making us the 28th state to participate. Formal proposed regulations are expected by the end of September, with the credit launching in January.

Read the full breakdown on our blog →

The U.S. Treasury Department last week released new preview guidance around the federal education tax credit. Take a look!

06/18/2026

📢 Big news for NC charter school leaders: our 2026 Preferred Vendors page is live and better than ever!

We've curated a list of 40+ vendors with demonstrated expertise in serving K-12 and charter schools across North Carolina. Whether you're building a new facility, navigating finances, or looking for curriculum and IT solutions, these partners have you covered.

📌 Categories include:
• Architecture, Construction & Design
• Financial & Insurance Services
• Transportation
• Online Learning & Curriculum
• Legal Counsel
• Speech & Behavior Services
• ...and much more!

Many vendors also include testimonials from charter leaders who've worked with them, so you can find the right fit with confidence.

👉 Explore the full list:

Discover trusted partners who help North Carolina charter schools succeed. Explore the Coalition's preferred vendors and their solutions.

06/12/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the five newest charter schools joining the NC family this fall!

On Monday, the NC Charter Schools Review Board granted final approval to five schools from the 2026 Ready to Open cohort. These schools are set to welcome students for the very first time in August:

📍 NC Connections Academy – K-12 virtual school, statewide
📍 Warren YES – K-6, Warren County
📍 Carolina Collegiate High School – 9th grade (inaugural year), Durham County
📍 RYZE Charter Academy – K-4, Guilford County
📍 IDYL-Wake – K-6, Wake County

With these additions, North Carolina will have 216 charter schools operating statewide in the 2026-27 school year – continuing to expand high-quality public school options for families across the state.

We’re so proud of these school communities and everyone who worked hard to make this moment possible.

🔗

Five new NC charter schools on Monday earned approval from the state's Charter Review Board to open in the fall.