What share of public-school students attend a charter school, by state

7.9% of U.S. public-school students, 3,858,033, attended one of 7,592 charter schools in 2024-25. Arizona had the largest share of any state, 20.8%, and the District of Columbia 44.8%. 6 states had no charter students: Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont.

NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · charter flag from that year's directory · this page first published · data checked · method

U.S.7.9%50 states measured
Largest charter share20.8%Arizona
Smallest charter share0.0%Vermont
Students in charter schools by stateAK 6%; AL 1%; AR 9%; AZ 21%; CA 13%; CO 15%; CT 2%; DC 45%; DE 14%; FL 14%; GA 4%; HI 8%; IA 0%; ID 13%; IL 3%; IN 5%; KS 1%; KY 0%; LA 14%; MA 5%; MD 3%; ME 2%; MI 11%; MN 8%; MO 3%; MS 1%; MT 0%; NC 10%; ND 0%; NE 0%; NH 4%; NJ 5%; NM 11%; NV 15%; NY 7%; OH 7%; OK 8%; OR 8%; PA 10%; RI 10%; SC 6%; SD 0%; TN 4%; TX 9%; UT 12%; VA 0%; VT 0%; WA 0%; WI 6%; WV 1%; WY 1%AK: 6%AK6%ME: 2%ME2%WI: 6%WI6%VT: 0%VT0%NH: 4%NH4%WA: 0%WA0%ID: 13%ID13%MT: 0%MT0%ND: 0%ND0%MN: 8%MN8%IL: 3%IL3%MI: 11%MI11%NY: 7%NY7%MA: 5%MA5%OR: 8%OR8%NV: 15%NV15%WY: 1%WY1%SD: 0%SD0%IA: 0%IA0%IN: 5%IN5%OH: 7%OH7%PA: 10%PA10%NJ: 5%NJ5%CT: 2%CT2%RI: 10%RI10%CA: 13%CA13%UT: 12%UT12%CO: 15%CO15%NE: 0%NE0%MO: 3%MO3%KY: 0%KY0%WV: 1%WV1%VA: 0%VA0%MD: 3%MD3%DE: 14%DE14%AZ: 21%AZ21%NM: 11%NM11%KS: 1%KS1%AR: 9%AR9%TN: 4%TN4%NC: 10%NC10%SC: 6%SC6%DC: 45%DC45%OK: 8%OK8%LA: 14%LA14%MS: 1%MS1%AL: 1%AL1%GA: 4%GA4%HI: 8%HI8%TX: 9%TX9%FL: 14%FL14%
Students in charter schools by stateAK 6%; AL 1%; AR 9%; AZ 21%; CA 13%; CO 15%; CT 2%; DC 45%; DE 14%; FL 14%; GA 4%; HI 8%; IA 0%; ID 13%; IL 3%; IN 5%; KS 1%; KY 0%; LA 14%; MA 5%; MD 3%; ME 2%; MI 11%; MN 8%; MO 3%; MS 1%; MT 0%; NC 10%; ND 0%; NE 0%; NH 4%; NJ 5%; NM 11%; NV 15%; NY 7%; OH 7%; OK 8%; OR 8%; PA 10%; RI 10%; SC 6%; SD 0%; TN 4%; TX 9%; UT 12%; VA 0%; VT 0%; WA 0%; WI 6%; WV 1%; WY 1%AK: 6%AK6%ME: 2%ME2%WI: 6%WI6%VT: 0%VT0%NH: 4%NH4%WA: 0%WA0%ID: 13%ID13%MT: 0%MT0%ND: 0%ND0%MN: 8%MN8%IL: 3%IL3%MI: 11%MI11%NY: 7%NY7%MA: 5%MA5%OR: 8%OR8%NV: 15%NV15%WY: 1%WY1%SD: 0%SD0%IA: 0%IA0%IN: 5%IN5%OH: 7%OH7%PA: 10%PA10%NJ: 5%NJ5%CT: 2%CT2%RI: 10%RI10%CA: 13%CA13%UT: 12%UT12%CO: 15%CO15%NE: 0%NE0%MO: 3%MO3%KY: 0%KY0%WV: 1%WV1%VA: 0%VA0%MD: 3%MD3%DE: 14%DE14%AZ: 21%AZ21%NM: 11%NM11%KS: 1%KS1%AR: 9%AR9%TN: 4%TN4%NC: 10%NC10%SC: 6%SC6%DC: 45%DC45%OK: 8%OK8%LA: 14%LA14%MS: 1%MS1%AL: 1%AL1%GA: 4%GA4%HI: 8%HI8%TX: 9%TX9%FL: 14%FL14%
Students in charter schools by stateAK 6%; AL 1%; AR 9%; AZ 21%; CA 13%; CO 15%; CT 2%; DC 45%; DE 14%; FL 14%; GA 4%; HI 8%; IA 0%; ID 13%; IL 3%; IN 5%; KS 1%; KY 0%; LA 14%; MA 5%; MD 3%; ME 2%; MI 11%; MN 8%; MO 3%; MS 1%; MT 0%; NC 10%; ND 0%; NE 0%; NH 4%; NJ 5%; NM 11%; NV 15%; NY 7%; OH 7%; OK 8%; OR 8%; PA 10%; RI 10%; SC 6%; SD 0%; TN 4%; TX 9%; UT 12%; VA 0%; VT 0%; WA 0%; WI 6%; WV 1%; WY 1%AK: 6%AKME: 2%MEWI: 6%WIVT: 0%VTNH: 4%NHWA: 0%WAID: 13%IDMT: 0%MTND: 0%NDMN: 8%MNIL: 3%ILMI: 11%MINY: 7%NYMA: 5%MAOR: 8%ORNV: 15%NVWY: 1%WYSD: 0%SDIA: 0%IAIN: 5%INOH: 7%OHPA: 10%PANJ: 5%NJCT: 2%CTRI: 10%RICA: 13%CAUT: 12%UTCO: 15%CONE: 0%NEMO: 3%MOKY: 0%KYWV: 1%WVVA: 0%VAMD: 3%MDDE: 14%DEAZ: 21%AZNM: 11%NMKS: 1%KSAR: 9%ARTN: 4%TNNC: 10%NCSC: 6%SCDC: 45%DCOK: 8%OKLA: 14%LAMS: 1%MSAL: 1%ALGA: 4%GAHI: 8%HITX: 9%TXFL: 14%FL
Students in charter schools by stateAK 6%; AL 1%; AR 9%; AZ 21%; CA 13%; CO 15%; CT 2%; DC 45%; DE 14%; FL 14%; GA 4%; HI 8%; IA 0%; ID 13%; IL 3%; IN 5%; KS 1%; KY 0%; LA 14%; MA 5%; MD 3%; ME 2%; MI 11%; MN 8%; MO 3%; MS 1%; MT 0%; NC 10%; ND 0%; NE 0%; NH 4%; NJ 5%; NM 11%; NV 15%; NY 7%; OH 7%; OK 8%; OR 8%; PA 10%; RI 10%; SC 6%; SD 0%; TN 4%; TX 9%; UT 12%; VA 0%; VT 0%; WA 0%; WI 6%; WV 1%; WY 1%AK: 6%AKME: 2%MEWI: 6%WIVT: 0%VTNH: 4%NHWA: 0%WAID: 13%IDMT: 0%MTND: 0%NDMN: 8%MNIL: 3%ILMI: 11%MINY: 7%NYMA: 5%MAOR: 8%ORNV: 15%NVWY: 1%WYSD: 0%SDIA: 0%IAIN: 5%INOH: 7%OHPA: 10%PANJ: 5%NJCT: 2%CTRI: 10%RICA: 13%CAUT: 12%UTCO: 15%CONE: 0%NEMO: 3%MOKY: 0%KYWV: 1%WVVA: 0%VAMD: 3%MDDE: 14%DEAZ: 21%AZNM: 11%NMKS: 1%KSAR: 9%ARTN: 4%TNNC: 10%NCSC: 6%SCDC: 45%DCOK: 8%OKLA: 14%LAMS: 1%MSAL: 1%ALGA: 4%GAHI: 8%HITX: 9%TXFL: 14%FL

Students in charter schools

  • 0.0% to under 0.8%
  • 0.8% to under 3.6%
  • 3.6% to under 7.6%
  • 7.6% to under 11.3%
  • 11.3% and up

D.C. is one city system, so it is in the table but not ranked among the 50 states.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25: school directory (charter status) and membership.

Largest charter share: the top ten

Students in charter schools, highest ten statesArizona 20.8%; Nevada 15.2%; Colorado 14.9%; Florida 14.2%; Louisiana 14.0%; Delaware 13.5%; Idaho 12.6%; California 12.5%; Utah 11.7%; Michigan 11.3%; U.S. 7.9%.0102030Arizona20.8%Nevada15.2%Colorado14.9%Florida14.2%Louisiana14.0%Delaware13.5%Idaho12.6%California12.5%Utah11.7%Michigan11.3%U.S. 7.9%
Students in charter schools, highest ten statesArizona 20.8%; Nevada 15.2%; Colorado 14.9%; Florida 14.2%; Louisiana 14.0%; Delaware 13.5%; Idaho 12.6%; California 12.5%; Utah 11.7%; Michigan 11.3%; U.S. 7.9%.0102030Arizona20.8%Nevada15.2%Colorado14.9%Florida14.2%Louisiana14.0%Delaware13.5%Idaho12.6%California12.5%Utah11.7%Michigan11.3%U.S. 7.9%
Students in charter schools, highest ten statesArizona 20.8%; Nevada 15.2%; Colorado 14.9%; Florida 14.2%; Louisiana 14.0%; Delaware 13.5%; Idaho 12.6%; California 12.5%; Utah 11.7%; Michigan 11.3%; U.S. 7.9%.0102030Arizona20.8%Nevada15.2%Colorado14.9%Florida14.2%Louisiana14.0%Delaware13.5%Idaho12.6%California12.5%Utah11.7%Michigan11.3%U.S. 7.9%
Students in charter schools, highest ten statesArizona 20.8%; Nevada 15.2%; Colorado 14.9%; Florida 14.2%; Louisiana 14.0%; Delaware 13.5%; Idaho 12.6%; California 12.5%; Utah 11.7%; Michigan 11.3%; U.S. 7.9%.0102030Arizona20.8%Nevada15.2%Colorado14.9%Florida14.2%Louisiana14.0%Delaware13.5%Idaho12.6%California12.5%Utah11.7%Michigan11.3%U.S. 7.9%

Smallest charter share: the bottom ten

Students in charter schools, lowest ten statesVermont 0.0%; South Dakota 0.0%; North Dakota 0.0%; Nebraska 0.0%; Montana 0.0%; Kentucky 0.0%; Virginia 0.1%; Iowa 0.1%; Washington 0.4%; Kansas 0.5%; U.S. 7.9%.02.557.510Vermont0.0%South Dakota0.0%North Dakota0.0%Nebraska0.0%Montana0.0%Kentucky0.0%Virginia0.1%Iowa0.1%Washington0.4%Kansas0.5%U.S. 7.9%
Students in charter schools, lowest ten statesVermont 0.0%; South Dakota 0.0%; North Dakota 0.0%; Nebraska 0.0%; Montana 0.0%; Kentucky 0.0%; Virginia 0.1%; Iowa 0.1%; Washington 0.4%; Kansas 0.5%; U.S. 7.9%.02.557.510Vermont0.0%South Dakota0.0%North Dakota0.0%Nebraska0.0%Montana0.0%Kentucky0.0%Virginia0.1%Iowa0.1%Washington0.4%Kansas0.5%U.S. 7.9%
Students in charter schools, lowest ten statesVermont 0.0%; South Dakota 0.0%; North Dakota 0.0%; Nebraska 0.0%; Montana 0.0%; Kentucky 0.0%; Virginia 0.1%; Iowa 0.1%; Washington 0.4%; Kansas 0.5%; U.S. 7.9%.0510Vermont0.0%South Dakota0.0%North Dakota0.0%Nebraska0.0%Montana0.0%Kentucky0.0%Virginia0.1%Iowa0.1%Washington0.4%Kansas0.5%U.S. 7.9%
Students in charter schools, lowest ten statesVermont 0.0%; South Dakota 0.0%; North Dakota 0.0%; Nebraska 0.0%; Montana 0.0%; Kentucky 0.0%; Virginia 0.1%; Iowa 0.1%; Washington 0.4%; Kansas 0.5%; U.S. 7.9%.0510Vermont0.0%South Dakota0.0%North Dakota0.0%Nebraska0.0%Montana0.0%Kentucky0.0%Virginia0.1%Iowa0.1%Washington0.4%Kansas0.5%U.S. 7.9%

The question and the method

Charter schools are public schools run outside the traditional district structure, and how many students they enroll varies enormously by state law. Across the 51 state systems, what share of public-school students attend a charter, and where are charters largest and absent?

Students in schools the 2024-25 CCD directory flags as charter schools, over all students in schools open that year with enrollment.

Limits. This measures the share of public-school students enrolled in charter schools, not the share of schools that are charters, and the two differ because charters tend to be smaller than the average district school. A state that opened charter schools after 2024-25 reads lower here than today. A zero reflects state law and school-opening status, not student demand.

Every state

All 51 as a table
StateRankStudents in charter schoolsCharter schools
District of Columbianot ranked44.8%123
Arizona120.8%564
Nevada215.2%99
Colorado314.9%246
Florida414.2%697
Louisiana514.0%136
Delaware613.5%23
Idaho712.6%75
California812.5%1,254
Utah911.7%136
Michigan1011.3%357
New Mexico1110.5%96
Pennsylvania1210.2%174
Rhode Island1310.0%40
North Carolina149.6%200
Arkansas159.0%95
Texas168.8%970
Oregon178.3%125
Minnesota188.0%267
Hawaii197.8%37
Oklahoma207.6%58
New York217.4%337
Ohio227.3%313
South Carolina236.2%77
Wisconsin245.9%216
Alaska255.7%31
Massachusetts265.3%72
Indiana275.1%115
New Jersey284.5%81
Tennessee294.2%99
Georgia303.6%86
New Hampshire313.6%36
Illinois323.2%131
Missouri332.9%79
Maryland342.8%48
Connecticut352.2%21
Maine361.7%11
West Virginia371.4%4
Alabama380.9%17
Mississippi390.9%8
Wyoming400.8%5
Kansas410.5%7
Washington420.4%15
Iowa430.1%4
Virginia440.1%7
Kentucky450.0%0
Montana460.0%0
Nebraska470.0%0
North Dakota480.0%0
South Dakota490.0%0
Vermont500.0%0

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25: school directory (charter status) and membership.

Related research

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  3. 03All research

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Sources

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory and membership · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .