Search
Close this search box.

Illinois Charter Schools

Illinois flag
1996
MORE THAN

Year charter school law was enacted

1
MORE THAN

Estimated number of charter schools in 2020-2021

1
MORE THAN

Estimated number of charter school students in 2020-2021

Find a Illinois charter school near you.

Find a Charter School in Your Neighborhood

Results Found

Did you know?

The first public charter school opened in 1992, only one year after the enactment of the 1991 Omnibus K-12 Education Finance Bill.

Viewing Grade Level
×

Submit Your Charter School Listing

We’d love to get your charter school added to our map! Please submit the following details below and our team will verify listing. kindly expect a few days to get confirmed.

Email info@publiccharter.org for questions on status.


Use if an exact building location is needed. Use whatsmygps.com to find coordinates.
×

Enter your information to receive this list of charter schools directly in your inbox.


We found 21 results within 5 miles of
{Location to populate from the search field}.

# Physical Locations # Virtual Locations

We take privacy very seriously. We will not sell or share your information.with anybody.

Searching....
State associations

Illinois Network of Charter Schools

Chicago, IL

(312) 629-2063 | Email | Website

Kids First Chicago

Chicago, IL

(312) 853-1212 | Email | Website

Most of the nearly 4,000 public schools in Illinois are operated by one of the state’s 853 school districts. Charter schools account for 137 of the state’s public schools, which operate with more autonomy than district schools. Charter schools operate under a contract with an authorizer, either the state’s public education authority or a school district. 

Schools chartered by a district have more autonomy than other district schools but are still part of their local district. Currently, 9 Illinois districts can authorize charter schools. All state-chartered schools in Illinois are authorized by the state’s public education authority and serve as their own Local Education Agency (LEA).

*information up to date as of 2022

“In Chicago and beyond, Illinois charter schools have a proven record of success serving more than 60,000 students. We are committed to providing a high-quality public education to historically underserved communities using the innovation and flexibility of the charter school model. Equally important, innovations pioneered in Illinois charter schools have now spread across the state, bringing benefits to hundreds of thousands of additional public school students.”

Andrew Broy, President, Illinois Network of Charter Schools

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

trophy icon

Memorial Gifts

Contact Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

trophy icon

Commemorative Gifts

Contact Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

Notice

You are now leaving the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Website

STAY INFORMED

Get the latest charter school updates straight to your inbox.

shapes icon

Wire Transfers

For questions regarding wire transfers, please email of call Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

shapes icon

Gifts of Stock

For questions regarding stock, please email of call Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

shapes icon

Matching Gifts

If you or your spouse work for a company that provides matching gifts, you can make an even bigger impact! To have your gift matched, you must submit your company’s completed matching gift form.

Please send all completed matching gift forms to:

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
800 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006.

If this donation will be potentially matched, please provide the company name.

Advocates Council

Contact Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

calendar icon

Legacy Society

Contact Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994 to learn more about the Legacy Society or for any other inquiries regarding planned giving.