Alabama Public Charter Schools
Every child deserves the chance to choose a great school.
2025–26 Alabama Charter Schools Data
9,500+
parents, educators, school board members & community supporters
8,000+
students enrolled
84%
of students are from economically disadvantaged communities
15%
of students have special needs
2025-26 Enrollment Data
Why Choose Charter?
All Alabama Charter Schools are tuition–free public schools, open to all students, regardless of their zip code.
2025-26 Alabama Charter Schools
Freedom Prep
Empower Community School
Independence Prep
Alabama Aerospace & Aviation High School
I Dream Big Academy
i3 Academy
Legacy Prep
Magic City Acceptance
University Charter School
Breakthrough Charter
LIFE Academy
LEAD Academy
Nixon Elementary*
Davis Elementary*
Bellingrath Middle*
ACCELL Academy
Covenant Academy
Ivy Classical
Floretta P. Carson
*Conversion Charter Schools
Autonomy & Innovation: Charters have freedom to try new teaching methods and curricula, tailoring education to specific student needs, which district schools often can't.
Specialized Focus: Many offer unique themes (like STEM, arts, etc.), catering to specific interests and learning styles.
Accountability: They must meet performance goals set by the state; failure to do so can lead to their charter being revoked, ensuring results-driven education.
Parental Choice & Involvement: Charter schools provide parents with more options in public education and often encourage higher levels of family participation.
Publicly Funded, Tuition-Free: They are public schools, meaning no tuition, but they can operate independent of district rules.
Community Feel: Charters build strong community ties, offering a close-knit environment and fostering better engagement.
Emily Schultz
Executive Director
Emily Schultz is the Executive Director for Alabama Charter Schools 501(c)(3) and Alabama Families for Great Schools 501(c)(4). Her goal is for every student in Alabama to have access to a great education — which she seeks to accomplish through awareness, advocacy, and access to Alabama Charter Schools.
Emily started her career in education as a second-grade teacher at Cascade Elementary in Atlanta through Teach for America. She is an Alabama native and has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Educational Studies from Carleton College, and a Master in Education Policy from Stanford University.
Prior to her current roles, she led the effort to pass Alabama's public charter school law through the Alabama Coalition for Public Charter Schools and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Emily came to the Coalition from the Governor's Office, where she served as education policy director.
Connect with Alabama Public Charter Schools Association
In 2015, the Alabama Legislature passed the School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, enabling public charter schools in Alabama.
Visit our affiliated 501(c)(4), Alabama Families for Great Schools at the link to the right. Founded in 2022, to connect Alabama public charter school stakeholders to policymakers, Alabama Families for Great Schools advocates for bringing high-quality public-school options to every Alabama student. Any donations to the (c)(4) are not tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3).
