Did you know there are 57 public charter schools on 99 campuses providing good schooling to over 28,000 D.C. students, and new schools open up every year. Whether you ave a child ready to start school in the fall, transition to a new school, or you are new to the District, public charter schools offer something for everyone. Perhaps you're not satisfied with the kind of education your child is getting in his or her current school. Perhaps you're looking for a particular program for your child - in the arts, in science or technology, bilingual immersion. Perhaps your child has special needs. Whatever the reason, when you choose to send your child to a public charter school in the District of Columbia, you are taking a positive step to improve his or her education.

Public charter schools are located all over the District and serve pre-school through adult students. There are no attendance zones or boundaries; families may choose a charter school in any part of the city. The majority are small - under 300 students - and have small classes. Many have longer school days and school years to increase your child's learning time. All feature dedicated teachers and a strong commitment to do whatever is necessary to help your child learn.

Public charter schools are free for D.C. residents, publicly funded, and do not screen students for any reason - - there are no admissions tests, minimum grade point averages, or auditions to get in. If more students apply for a charter school than there are seats available, students are admitted by a random lottery. Public charter schools are separate from the DC Public School System (DCPS) but are highly accountable to parents and to the public. Two parents are on the board of trustees of every public charter school, and parent involvement in the schools is welcome.

Start your search early and don't wait to visit the schools' websites and tour schools to learn more. Most charter schools have application deadlines in the spring and may have waiting lists.

Resources

Click here to download a list of all public charter schools for the 2009-2010 school year
Click here to download a copy of the DC School Chooser in English
Click here to download a copy of the DC School Chooser in Spanish
Click here to download enrollment information in English
Click here to download enrollment information in Spanish