New York City charter schools are free, public schools open to all children, making them some of the most accessible public schools in the city. If the number of applicants to a charter school exceeds the number of available seats, then charter schools are legally required to conduct a random enrollment lottery to fill them.

How to submit an application

There are three easy ways to apply to a charter school:

Use the Common Online Charter School Application to apply to multiple schools at once. Visit charternyc.org/apply-online
for details.

Visit each school’s website to download its application or apply online.

Stop by the school to pick up an application or call the school and ask staff to mail you an application.

* Based on SED enrollment data

146,200

public charter school students across all 5 boroughs

15%

of NYC public school students attend charter schools

10.1%

of all charter school students are English Language learners

Charter School Growth in New York City, 2019-2024

New York City charter school enrollment grew by 4.1% over the past school year, outpacing district school enrollment growth (0.7%).

■ Charter ■ District ■ State

BOROUGH ENROLLMENT CHANGES, CHARTER V. DISTRICT, 2022-23 TO 2023-24

DEMOGRAPHIC SUBGROUPS, DISTRICT VS. CHARTER, 2023-24

NYC charter school enrollment of Hispanic students increased by 7% over the past school year, and 37% of all Black kindergarten students in NYC attend a charter school. Charter school enrollment students with disabilities is the same or comparable to district schools.

Source: NYSED Preliminary Enrollment Data, February 2024