Charter Facts
Seek the Truth
- Charter Schools are public schools.
- Colorado Charter Schools must be non-profit by law.
- Charter schools do not charge tuition.
- Charter schools use non-discriminatory enrollment practices.
- There are no test-in requirements to attend charter schools.
- Today, 261 public charter schools in Colorado serve over 136,000 students (2024-25 CDE).
- Charter school enrollment in Colorado is over 15% of total public school enrollment in the state.
- Charter school students must take state assessments.
- Charter schools are subject to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
- Charter schools serve a broad range of students, including low-income students, racial and ethnic students of color, and students with disabilities or other special needs.
- Colorado charter schools are geographically dispersed across the state and serve urban, suburban, and rural communities across 70 localities in the state.
- Charter school programs and academic designs are as diverse as the students they enroll. Some charters implement longer school days, while others implement curricula specifically designed for at-risk students, gifted children, pregnant/parenting teens, juvenile offenders, and more.
