Dear Jack,
The start of this week marks National School Choice Week (1/26–2/1), a time to celebrate the growing number of educational options available to families across North Carolina and the nation.
When it comes to school choice, North Carolina has much to celebrate.
Today, families have access to a wide range of educational options for the more than 2.3 million children living in our state. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling—giving parents greater flexibility to choose what best fits their child’s needs.
If you’re a parent looking for school choice options for your child, we encourage you to review this great guide on school choice options in North Carolina, as well as this useful tool that lets you search for different types of schools near you.
For the 2024-25 school year, North Carolina continued to see growth in alternative schooling sectors compared with the previous year. Private school enrollment increased to approximately 135,738 students, up modestly from around 131,230 the year before, and the number of private schools rose to about 930 statewide. Public charter schools served roughly 153,480 students, representing about 10.2% of the state’s student population, with the total number of open charter schools near 208 after a small number of closures. Homeschooling also grew, with an estimated 165,243 students learning at home in 2024-25, a rise of about 5% from the prior year. Meanwhile, traditional public school enrollment showed a slight decline overall as more families opted for charter, private, or home schooling options.
