DC Charter Schools
The District of Columbia offers numerous charter school options for students in all eight wards.
Current DC Charter School Landscape:
- Over 130 charter schools operate across DC
- 47,000+ students enrolled (48% of all public school students)
- 134 schools managed by 62 nonprofit organizations
- Schools range from PK3 through grade 12
How Charter Schools Differ from Traditional Public Schools:
- Governance: Charter schools are operated by independent nonprofit organizations under agreements (charters) approved by the DC Public Charter School Board, while traditional DC Public Schools (DCPS) are run centrally by the DCPS Chancellor
- Flexibility: Charters have greater autonomy over curriculum, staffing, budget allocation, and instructional methods. They can specialize in areas like language immersion, Montessori, STEM, or project-based learning
- Accountability: Charter schools face performance reviews at least every five years and can have their charters revoked for underperformance. They must meet the same District-wide academic standards as DCPS schools
Enrollment Model: DC Charter schools enroll students through the My School DC common lottery system (the same system used for most DCPS schools). Families can rank up to 12 schools on one application. When demand exceeds available seats, schools use a random lottery to determine admissions, with preferences for:
- Siblings of current students
- Students designated “at-risk” (at select schools participating in Equitable Access)
- Founders’ children (limited cases)
Tuition: $0. Charter schools in DC are tuition-free and open to all DC residents. Like traditional public schools, they are funded through federal, state, and local tax dollars based on per-pupil enrollment.
Transportation: Many charter schools provide free transportation, though routes and eligibility vary by school. Students living in the school’s ward or zone may be prioritized. Check with individual schools about transportation options.
Application Timing: Lottery applications typically open in December and close in early March each year through the My School DC portal.