Guide to East Bay Charter Schools

Thank you to our sponsors, as indicated by the logos and descriptions below.

East Bay charter schools are free public schools that focus on areas ranging from language arts to social justice or technology. We’ve identified schools in our area as well as additional resources for figuring it all out. Happy visiting, and hope you find just the right school for your family.

{Our 2026-27 guide sponsors}

Featured East Bay Charter Schools & Resources

Learn More about East Bay & California Charter Schools

Find a list of charter schools by location: Oakland, Hayward, Richmond, Alameda, Emeryville, and San Leandro | Find the map of California Charter Schools | Learn more information about charters by county

East Bay Charter Elementary, Middle Schools, & High Schools

Oakland, CA Charter Schools

The Office of Charter Schools (OCS) is a department within the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) that authorizes and oversees 28 independently run public charter schools in Oakland. Other Oakland-based charter schools are authorized by other entities. We have listed them below. Website to learn more >>

Since 2010, Oakland Enrolls has connected Oakland families to high-quality public charter school options by facilitating discovery and enrollment regardless of zip code or family income.

Oakland Charter Schools include:
Achieve Academy (TK-5)
AIMS College Prep Elementary (K-8)
AIMS College Prep High School (9-12)
Alternatives in Action High School (9-12)
ARISE High School (9-12)
ASCEND Charter School (TK-8)
Aspire College Triumph Academy (TK-5)
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Prep Academy (6-12)
Aspire Monarch Academy (TK-5)
Bay Area Technology School (6-12)
Cox Academy (TK-5)
​​Downtown Charter Academy (AMPS) (6-8)
East Bay Innovation Academy (EBIA) (6-12)
Envision Academy for Arts & Technology (6-12)
Francophone Charter School of Oakland (TK-8)
KIPP Bridge Rising (TK-4)
KIPP Bridge Upper (5-8)
Latitude 37.8 High School (9-12)
Lazear Charter Academy (TK-8)
Learning Without Limits Charter School (K-5)
Lighthouse Community Charter (K-8)
Lighthouse Community Charter High (9-12)
Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter (K-12)
LPS Oakland R & D (9-12)
Oakland Military Institute College Prep Academy (6-12)
Oakland School for the Arts (6-12)
Oakland Unity High School (9-12)
Oakland Unity Middle School (6-8)
Yu Ming Charter School (K-8)

Richmond, CA Charter Schools

West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) administers the charter schools in Richmond, Pinole, and El Cerrito. Website to learn more >>

Richmond & El Cerrito Charter Schools include:
AMPS Benito Juarez Elementary (BJE) (TK-5)
AMPS John Henry High School (9-12)
AMPS Richmond Charter Academy (6-8)
Aspire Richmond College Preparatory Academy (6-12)
Aspire Richmond Technology Academy (K-5)
Caliber: Beta Academy (K-8)
Invictus Academy of Richmond (7-12)
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond (9-12)
Making Waves Academy (5-12)
Richmond College Prep (TK-8)
Summit Public School K2 (7-12)
Summit Public School Tamalpais (7-12)
Voices College-Bound Language Academy (TK-8)

Hayward, CA Charter Schools

Charter Schools with their addresses in Hayward, San Lorenzo, or Castro Valley, CA:

Hayward Collegiate Charter (TK-6)
Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori School (1-12)
Impact Academy of Arts & Technology (6-12)
Leadership Public Schools – Hayward (9-12)

Alameda, CA Charter Schools

Alameda Charter Schools include:

Academy of Alameda Elementary (K-8)
Alameda Community Learning Center (6-12)
Nea Community Learning Center (K-12)

Emeryville, CA Charter School

None found

San Leandro/San Lorenzo, CA Charter School

KIPP Summit Academy (5-8)
KIPP King Collegiate (9-12)

Berkeley, CA Charter Schools

Berkeley Unified School District is not operating any charter schools at this time.

Further Links for Charter School Research

Parents and educators can start their own charter schools to fill a need they believe is unmet. The process involves drafting a petition, a budget, managing a facility, and hiring personnel. Teachers must be credentialed, and accountability is overseen by parents, authorizers, and the state.

California Charter Schools round-up with statistical reports; filter by county or search by school name. Website.

Charter schools are open to all students, not limited by geography. That is, Oakland charter schools are open to Berkeley residents and vice versa. When more applicants than spaces are available, a lottery system will grant admission.

Charter schools are public, tuition-free schools accountable to state and federal public education laws with extensive oversight by a local charter authorizer, which is often the local school board. There are dozens of charter schools, right here in the 510. Oakland area charter schools offer many learning options.

The California Charter Schools Association website reads

Charter schools offer a different approach to public school – one as unique as California’s students. Charter schools put students first and offer the personal attention, creativity, and passionate teaching that students need to learn. Public, free, and open to all, charter schools are a vital part of public education in California.

East Bay charter schools are all different. To see a complete list of charter schools in the East Bay or play with an interactive map to find one nearest your home, visit the California Charter Schools Association online.

This is a (non-interactive) map of charter school locations in our area. Click to dig in.

Note: Cities in our consideration set include: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, and San Leandro. You may find a school just over a city border works well for your family.

Thank you again to our sponsors. KIPP Bridge Rising (TK-4), KIPP Bridge Upper (5-8), and Oakland Enrolls. 

See also the 510families Private School Guide and Preschool Guide for other great schools around the East Bay Area.

[Photos used with permission]