School Choice

School Choice and Homeschool in North Carolina

Private school choice programs, charter schools, homeschool rules and private schools in North Carolina. Facts as of November 2026.

Choice programs2At least one is universal
Charter schoolsAllowedPublic charter law
Homeschool noticeYesTesting: Yes

Private school choice programs

How they work ›

Opportunity Scholarship Program

Voucher Universal Enacted 2013

Open to all K-12 North Carolina students regardless of income (income limits were removed in 2023); award amounts are larger for lower-income households and capped at tuition and fees, and renewals and lower-income applicants are prioritized when funds are limited.

G.S. 115C-562.1 to 562.8 (Part 2A), enacted by S.L. 2013-360; administered by the NC State Education Assistance Authority (k12.ncseaa.edu).

Official source

Education Student Accounts (ESA+), Personal Education Student Accounts for Children with Disabilities

Education savings account Limited Enacted 2017

Limited to North Carolina students with a disability as defined in G.S. 115C-106.3 who are eligible for public school and have not yet received a high school diploma.

G.S. 115C-590 et seq. (Article 41), enacted by S.L. 2017-57; administered by the State Education Assistance Authority.

Official source

Charter schools

North Carolina has a public charter school law.

Official source

Homeschool rules

A home school files a notice of intent to operate with the Division of Nonpublic Education and keeps attendance and immunization records. It must administer a nationally standardized test each year, and the instructor must hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Check your state's law before you start.

Notice: Yes Testing: Yes

Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 115C-563 to 115C-565. Official source

Notes

The NCSEAA site blocked automated access, so program facts were verified from the General Statutes on ncleg.gov. Funding is limited and not every applicant receives an award.

Some items in a note may rest on news reports rather than an official source.

Private schools in North Carolina

The private school list will appear here after the first scheduled update.

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Sources: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 115C, Article 39 (Nonpublic Schools: Part 2A Scholarship Grants, Part 3 Home Schools), North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 115C, Article 41 (Personal Education Student Accounts), North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 115C, Article 14A (Charter Schools), NC State Education Assistance Authority: K12 Scholarships, NCES Private School Universe Survey. State facts as of November 2026. Check your state's law before you start.