12 more charter schools proposed for Charlotte region in 2017

Once again, the Charlotte region dominates North Carolina’s charter school scene, with 12 of 28 applications for new schools coming from Mecklenburg and surrounding counties.

The 28 applications for schools to open in 2017 include six in Mecklenburg County, three in Gaston and one each in Union, Iredell and Rowan counties. Wake County has the second-highest number with four applications.

If approved, the Charlotte-area schools would offer seats to 4,600 students in 2017-18 and 8,500 in five years, as they add grades.

The applications must be reviewed by the state Office of Charter Schools and Charter School Advisory Board, then go to the N.C. Board of Education for final approval.

Charter schools are public schools run by independent nonprofit boards, though some are managed by for-profit companies. They charge no tuition and generally hold admission lotteries if there are more applicants than seats.

Unlike district schools, charters don’t have geographic boundaries and are not required to provide meals or busing. They don’t get county money for buildings.

Since the state legislature lifted the 100-school limit in 2011, Charlotte has been at the heart of charter growth. The state currently has 160 charter schools, including 26 in Mecklenburg and eight that are located in nearby counties and draw Mecklenburg students.

Last year about 13,100 Mecklenburg students attended charter schools, or 8.3 percent of the county’s total public school enrollment, according to the state. Wake County, which has the state’s largest school district, had the next highest charter enrollment with 8,555 students. Charters accounted for 5.2 percent of Wake’s total public school enrollment.

Enrollment numbers for 2015-16 haven’t been reported yet.

For details about the 2017 applications: www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools/applications/

This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "12 more charter schools proposed for Charlotte region in 2017."