North Carolina has the sixth-highest number of charter schools in the United States, with 95 approved for this fall. South Carolina just opened its ninth. In North Carolina, charter schools offer parents an alternative to traditional public schools. The schools get tax dollars but are run privately by nonprofit, nonreligious groups - local school boards have no authority over them. Parents often seek to open charter schools, but their applications must undergo a lengthy review before the state approves them.
Any student can apply to any charter school in the state.
There is no tuition because the schools are supported publicly. In South Carolina, charter schools aren't quite so independent. It is up to local school boards to review the charter school's application. And although charter schools tend to have a more narrowly defined mission than traditional public schools, they are still governed by the local school board. This fall, the Charlotte area will have 15 charter schools.