New York City charter schools are experiencing a surge in enrollment, according to data from New York State Education Department (NYSED).
The 2024-25 figures reveal that charter school enrollment in the city has grown by 4.1% over the past academic year. With over 149,000 students enrolled in the current school year, charter schools represent more than 15% of all K-12 public school students across the five boroughs.
James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter Center, a nonprofit that works to boost charter schools across the city, attributed this growth to the track record of success demonstrated by these institutions of learning.
“Charter schools offer families a broad array of incredible choices when it comes to their children’s education,” he said. “Every parent and guardian wants their child to succeed in school, and we’re definitely seeing a rise in interest in our high-performing city charter schools across the board.”
Enrollment also shows a diverse composition of charter school students.
Latino students make up about 43% of enrollment, while Black students account for nearly half of enrollment in charter schools throughout the city.
English language learners comprise 10% of all charter school students, while students with disabilities make up nearly 19%, figures comparable to the district’s average.
As of 2025, 351 charter schools in New York were active, with nine more approved but not yet open. Over 280 of these schools are located throughout NYC’s five boroughs.
Meanwhile, a new online resource is available that aims to make the charter school selection process easier for families. Earlier this month, the New York City Charter School Center launched the NYC Charter School FINDER, a catalogue of the city’s many charter schools located across more than 410 campuses
For those considering applying to charter schools, the Common Online Charter School Application offers a streamlined process, allowing applicants to submit a single application to multiple schools simultaneously. The application process is now open for the 2025-26 school year.
The strong enrollment rates at New York City charter schools underscore the growing preference among families for high-quality educational alternatives and the continued efforts of charter school educators and leaders to provide students with the resources and support they need to succeed.
Read more: Public Schools Adjusted Their Arrival & Dismissal Times
