Statistics

From 1999–2000 to 2008–09, the number of students enrolled in public charter schools more than tripled from 340,000 to 1.4 million students. 1.4 million enrolled in 4601 charter schools, representing 2.9 percent of the total public school enrollment. In addition to the increase in the number of charter schools, the enrollment size of charter schools has grown over time. Though public charter schools have grown in size of enrollment since 1999–2000, they tend to be smaller than traditional public schools, of which 30 percent had fewer than 300 students in 2008–09.

As of 2011 there are charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The states of Maine, Vermont, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Alabama, Kentucky and West Virginia did not allow charters. Washington is the only state that has passed the legislation, but was overturned by the majority of votes from the labor unions and charter school opponents.

Charter school locations are mostly in a urban city. Part of charter school's goal is to bring a better quality of education to were its needed. In fact, the Department of Education Statistics show that 55.1% of U.S. Charter schools are in urban locales, while 21.0% are suburban, 7.8% “town” and 16.1% rural. Contrast that with traditional public schools with 24.6% percent urban, 28.1% suburban, 14.2% “town” and 32.9% in rural areas.