Charter school enrollment continues to grow, bolstered by minority families

Public school enrollment is on a steep decline, except for one type of school: charters.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) released its 2025 enrollment report, which found charter schools are continuing their enrollment gains.

“The number of students at charter schools skyrocketed during the pandemic, and even with growth of other educational options like the number of Education Savings Account (ESA) programs, enrollment at charter schools defies expectations by continuing to grow,” NAPCS explained.

“Today, families expect choices and they expect excellent public schools. Charter schools deliver.” 

Out of 43 states with available data, 39 experienced charter growth, amounting to more than 111,000 students. Meanwhile, government-run public schools declined by almost 222,000. 

With nearly 4 million students total, charter enrollment nationwide has nearly doubled since 2012. 

Although they are technically public schools, charters are managed by private groups and have much more freedom than traditional, government-run public schools. They often have smaller class sizes, don’t have teachers’ unions, and can specialize in areas such as STEM or fine arts. 

And unlike traditional public schools, no student is ever assigned or zoned to attend a charter school, making them a form of school choice. 

A 2023 study from Stanford also found charter schools outperform government-run public schools in academics. 

The learning gains equate to 16 more days of reading instruction and 6 more days of math, Stanford reports. Black, Hispanic and low-income students also achieve more learning than their public-school counterparts. 

Furthermore, minority families are highly supportive of charter schools. NAPCS’ report cites a poll from Democrats for Education Reform, which found 77% of all parents support charters, including 80% of black parents and 71% of Hispanic parents. 

President Trump also has publicly supported charter schools as part of his school choice agenda. In September, the Trump administration announced it would distribute $500 million in charter school grants – the largest-ever investment from the federal government. 

“Charter schools allow for innovative educational models that expand learning opportunities for students,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Trump Administration will continue to use every available tool to advocate for meaningful learning, advance school choice, and ensure every student is well-positioned to succeed.”