On the same day that parents were rallying at the General Assembly to urge lawmakers to fund expansion of the popular Opportunity Scholarship Program, state officials released numbers showing enrollment in traditional public schools continued to decline while enrollment in home schools, private schools, and charter schools continued to increase.
According to data from the Office of Non-Public Education, enrollment in home schools increased 3.2 percent in the last year, growing from 152,717 to 157,642. Similarly, the same office also released data showing enrollment in North Carolina private schools totaled 131,230 in 2023–24, an increase of 3.5 percent over the previous year. Since 2019, private school enrollment is up 28 percent, and there are 112 new schools.
North Carolina’s charter schools are also experiencing significant growth. Charter schools are public schools governed by an independent board with additional administrative flexibility. This year charter schools had a growth rate of 4.9 percent. North Carolina now has 210 charter schools with an enrollment of more than 147,000 students.
Meanwhile, enrollment in traditional public schools continues to decline. This year public school enrollment declined by nearly 3,600 students, falling from 1,397,273 in 2022–23 to 1,393,679 in 2023–24. Enrollment in traditional public schools has declined every year since 2016.
In 2014, traditional public schools comprised about 85 percent of all K–12 enrollment. Home schools, private schools, and charters schools accounted for only 15 percent of total K–12 enrollment. In 2024, enrollment in traditional public schools comprises about 75 percent of all K–12 students, while enrollment in home schools, private schools, and charter schools totals almost 25 percent of all students.
