According to state-level data analyzed by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in a new report, Do You Know Where the Children Are? A Five-Year Analysis of Public School Enrollment, for the 2023-24 school year, North Carolina’spublic charter school enrollment grew by 24.32% percent or 28,839 students. Charter schools in North Carolina were the only type of public schools to grow this year.   

Nationally, over the past five years, charter schools gained nearly 400,000 students, while district schools lost 1.75 million. Hispanic and Black families are increasingly choosing charter schools, with Hispanic enrollment growing 18 times faster in charters than in district schools.  More than half of the new Black charter school students came from three states: Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.  In North Carolina, Black charter school enrollment has grown by 23.83% over the last five years.  Hispanic charter school enrollment in North Carolina increased by 53.47% over the last five years.

The data underscores the importance of offering diverse, high-quality education choices to families. As charter schools continue to flourish amidst declining district enrollment, it’s clear that parents are seeking innovative public school models that better meet the needs of their children. Dive into the full report to explore these key trends and their implications for the future of public education.