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What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that operate independently from traditional school districts but remain publicly funded and accountable. They are established through a charter contract—a legal agreement between the school’s governing board and an authorizing body, such as a state or local education agency. Our authorizer is the Charter School Institute (CSI). This contract outlines the school’s mission, academic goals, governance structure, and performance expectations.

While charter schools are held to high standards of academic, financial, and operational performance, they are also granted greater autonomy than traditional public schools in how they deliver instruction, structure their school day, and manage their operations. This flexibility allows charter schools to implement unique educational models—such as classical education—tailored to the needs of their students and communities.

Charter public schools are open to all students and do not charge tuition. Admission is not based on academic ability or geographic boundaries. If applications exceed available seats, a random lottery may be used to determine enrollment.

Like other public schools, charter schools are funded primarily through state per-pupil allocations, based on the number of enrolled students. However, they are often responsible for securing and maintaining their own facilities and may rely on additional fundraising to support their programs.

Charter schools exist to provide families with choice in public education and to foster innovation, accountability, and high-quality learning environments.

Caprock Academy Charter School Documents