Nearly 4 in 10 North Carolina Counties Lack Charter Schools, New Report Shows

May 12–18, 2024, is officially National Charter Schools Week in North Carolina. It should be a time of celebration for all the families across North Carolina who choose charters as the best educational option for their children.

Charter schools are public schools, but they differ from their traditional counterparts in some respects. As Bob Luebke, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation, has explained, “Charter schools enjoy additional flexibility with regard to administrative regulation and teacher certification requirements. Charter schools also have the option of contracting with charter management companies that provide administrative and technical services.”

According to a Carolina Journal Poll (formerly Civitas Poll) released in Jan. 2024, two-thirds of respondents said they supported charter schools, which continue to be a popular option for families throughout the state. In fact, since 2011, when lawmakers removed the cap on the number of charter schools that could operate in North Carolina, enrollment in charters has increased by 208 percent. Currently, 210 charter schools operate across North Carolina. Yet a draft report presented to the State Board of Education earlier this month by the Office of Charter Schools shows that in many counties throughout the state, families don’t have ready access to charters.

Distribution of North Carolina Charter Schools by County, as of April 1, 2024

Source: Draft 2023 Annual Charter Schools Report

According to the draft of the report, 37 of the state’s 100 counties don’t have any charter schools. Nearly half of the state’s 210 charters can be found in just six counties: Mecklenburg (34), Wake (26), Durham (16), Guilford (13), Buncombe (7), and New Hanover (7).

Number of North Carolina Charter Schools by County, as of April 1, 2024

Source: Draft 2023 Annual Charter Schools Report

Charter schools throughout the state reported waitlists totaling more than 85,000 students at the beginning of the 2023–24 school year, according to the report. Even though that count might include duplicates if students are on waitlists at multiple schools, it indicates a growing demand for charter schools among North Carolina families.

With so much unmet demand, how can lawmakers encourage the growth of more charter schools? One way is by amending restrictive zoning laws that prevent charters from being developed in certain areas. More charter schools throughout the state would open opportunities for families who don’t currently have access to them.