New Jersey Charter Schools

New Jersey charter schools are tuition-free public schools operating independently of traditional school districts under the New Jersey Charter School Program Act of 1995. They are one of New Jersey’s most established and important school choice options.

• 84 charter schools operating statewide (as of October 2025)
• ~63,535 students enrolled — outpacing district-school enrollment growth
• ~32,000 students on charter waiting lists
• Open to all students in the school’s district or region of residence
• Free to attend; no tuition or special entrance requirements
• Admission by random lottery when applications exceed seats

Charter schools are concentrated in cities like Newark, Camden, Trenton, and Jersey City but are spread across the state. Many are nationally recognized for academic outcomes — Newark charter students, for example, have outperformed the state average on standardized tests for three consecutive years.