2023 Best Charter High Schools in the San Antonio Area

• BASIS Texas Charter Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  61 reviews

Sophomore: There are many things that I like about Basis Shavano. First off, the school provides a wide variety of classes and extracurriculars students can choose from, enabling them to enroll into classes or clubs they actually like and giving them a chance to see what their future majors could be like. Not only that, the teachers at Basis are extremely helpful and nice, making the learning experience at Basis not bad at all. Did I mention the lunches? Definitely above-average. However, if there was one thing I could change about my experience at Basis would be the homework load. Basis is the type of school that challenges students in order to prepare them for college, and this is great, but since there isn't a cap on the amount of homework assigned per class, the upper-grade students receive much more work than necessary. Besides that, learning at Basis as a students has been great by far, and I most likely will attend my next high school year at Basis!... Read 61 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,050

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• School of Science & Technology, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  143 reviews

Works Here: I am a proud teacher at SST. I have taught in other districts in the public domain, but SST is so much different. It is a family! The students who attend here are amazing. They inspire me to be a better educator. Our students have designed and created 3-D printed hands for children born with missing limbs. I am in awe of the innovative future leaders, doctors, cyber security warriors, computer programmers and other STEM professionals that attend here. These students are going to change the world! I have been part of this family for 5 years and plan to stay here until I retire. In my opinion, there is no better school out there! The administration treats the faculty with respect and I feel appreciated each day. More importantly, the administration care very much about the students, as well. Many were former educators or counselors at this school. They know all the students and really listen to students' concerns. SST truly is the best place to be!... Read 143 reviews

• grade A

• Students 446

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  63 reviews

Junior: Two-time Blue Ribbon school, recognized for outstanding academic achievement, Young Women's Leadership Academy is an exceptionally well school, providing students with skills for college readiness. From a student's perspective, attending this school throughout middle school was definitely something to get used to, from all-girls, to fast paced classes, it was safe to say that nobody liked being challenged in these ways. Entering as a class of 100 girls, we now remain at 42 in high school. Each and every one of us are enrolled in a variety of different classes, and I believe that this is extremely important in personal development to discover different pathways for college. Ranging from Dual Enrollment, to Advanced Placement, to Honors classes, it's very safe to say that most of us can now appreciate the challenging work that we have done here at this school that has prepared us in so many ways on our way to college through community service hours, school involvement, and so much more.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A

• Students 588

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-11

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Works Here: This school has many clubs the scholars can choose from and they are even given the opportunity to create new clubs they are interested in so long as they get a adult sponsor to assist them. All the clubs are so fun and the kids have a great time learning new things they are interested in. I am part of the staff and have participated in the arts and crafts clubs and the kids had a great time being very creative with their ideas and expressing themselves creatively.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 625

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Great Hearts Academy - Texas, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  23 reviews

Senior: Great Hearts has an amazing, rigorous curriculum that has prepared me for life in a way few other schools could. More important than the all-honors courses, and the emphasis on the arts, both visual and theatrical, is the Human Letters program. Each student will read great books from history, ranging from philosophy, to history, even political science. They will be taught how to think and how to question the world around them, and be better people for it.... Read 23 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 492

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Great Hearts Academy - Texas, TX•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  19 reviews

Senior: The incredible focus on the humanities is showcased through the Senior Thesis, a year-long project of 15-20 pages and a Senior Defense. History and literature are combined into Humane Letters, where seminar takes place. Only the art and physical education courses are not considered honors courses, and the math taken most often ends with Calculus 2 by senior year. The teachers are both passionate and helpful, often answering questions outside of class. The culture of excellence and grit can be hard to measure up to, but dedicated students will find their home here. The student body is incredibly welcoming and sincere.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,400

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  223 reviews

Senior: Travis Early College Highschool is a challenging school that definitely helps you be prepared and ready for colleges, universities, and overall your future success. All the faculty is nice and understanding but there are a few that are very strict with rules. Overall the school itself has a comforting and reassuring environment in which you can find yourself and your friend group. Many of the teachers are very good with understanding different peoples situations, so they are always willing to be flexible as long as you discuss it. The majority of teachers are passionate about our success as students and are always willing to help in any way they can. There are very few to no issues so as a school it is very unproblematic and calm. The food at school is pretty average but its all pretty much good, depending on your taste in food.... Read 223 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 430

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Premier High Schools, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.39 out of 5  33 reviews

Alum: I loved Premier as a High School student. I love that students are able to focus on coursework and coursework only. No organized sports, so studies are a top focus. Premier is overall a great choice for students who are interested in graduating early and heading to college early!... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 111

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  55 reviews

Senior: What i like about Idea South Flores is that all teachers give a 100% to purse your education. You do feel welcome and encouraged to look for your college readiness. When needing extra help there is always peers and teachers by your side. Counselers are just great, always there when needing assistance with college applications, resumes, going over acceptance letters, etc. A change i would like to see is academics such as programs, taking classes that your majoring in just so when entering college you have knowledge. Freedom is limited as a senior, which is one thing I dislike.... Read 55 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 753

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  58 reviews

Senior: I've been at Idea Carver since I was in the second grade and it was a fairly good experience. I made lots of friends and gained my social confidence through connecting with my peers and teachers. The teachers here care about me but aren't always given the same treatment back. I am lucky enough that I was able to build these relationships with these people because I'm not as social as others. I believe in this school and the beautiful people in it just as they believed in me all these years. Even though I'm leaving this year, this amazing school will always have a special place in my heart.... Read 58 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 744

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Texas College Preparatory Academies, TX•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Senior: Founders Classical Academy of Schertz is a great school! I'm going into my senior year of highschool, and I've been at the school since my 6th grade year, which is when it opened in 2016. The classes are advanced, so they are harder than the classes at most schools, but most teachers do a great job of thoroughly teaching the content. There are a lot of volunteer opportunities for parents. There are many extracurriculars, including board game club, ultimate frisbee, cheerleading, archery, cross country, flag football, volleyball, basket ball, soccer, track, baseball, and more. The school spirit is amazing and so is the administration. The only thing I would change are the school lunches and the lack of freedom of brands we have when buying the uniforms. Overall, Founders is a good school that teaches good values and prepares you in the long run for college.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 670

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Sophomore: ALA is a great school! I was originally in a school located in a rural town, so ALA was huge upgrade for me in many ways. The teachers are amazing, and admin is very helpful with career planning. One thing I like about ALA is that the student voice is very powerful, in the sense that anything we bring up to admin is improved upon to the best of their ability. This also applies to personal issues with classes. For example, normally I wouldn’t be able to intern as a sophomore, but I asked my counselor if he could figure something out and he made it happen for me! My only issues have been with the lack of parent involvement, especially in extracurricular activities. Also the bathrooms are not the cleanest, but that’s more of an issue with students than the school itself. Overall, ALA is the best school I could ask for and I always feel valued when I’m there.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 982

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Harmony Public Schools - South Texas, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  111 reviews

Senior: After attending this school for 6 years straight, I can truly say that this school does meet expectations, in regards to academics and social structure! This school gives students an opportunity to actively participate in class and/ or extracurricular activities, as well as a push for archiving success in the future. In my case, teachers and counselors have guided and supported me throughout high school, taking every initiative to make sure I received the proper resources and materials for my AP, college-level, and dual credit classes, as well as my PLTW college pathway. Despite the events of COVID and the school year we all spend at home and online, they really tried their best to bring a smile to our faces every day, and even right now they look forward to seeing each one of us advance and continue going in the right direction.... Read 111 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 745

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  202 reviews

Senior: I like the atmosphere and the opportunities to practice careers we might seek after college. I enjoyed having a connection with my teachers and them understanding whenever I am stressed or confused in that class. I really love the school spirit we have, I have never seen my school so involved since I was a freshman or before Covid, and it’s just amazing to see. Something I would change would be the uniform policy everyone expresses themselves by the way they look so, I think we shouldn’t have one. If we knew how people dressed maybe we can understand each other better.... Read 202 reviews

• grade B

• Students 466

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 4-11

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Senior: This school gives those who stand out whether academically, athletic or artistic. I've attended this school since I was in 6th grade and I will be graduating this year as a senior. The environment of the students are very welcoming and encouraging to do your best.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• Students 385

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  19 reviews

Alum: My experience at Idea Walzem was fairly great! My teachers were always there to provide endless support and make sure that I was on top of things no matter the circumstances, and I wasn’t just a number there. However, for future students, I would like to see more variety in the AP classes they can take. I know that CollegeBoard plans to release several new AP classes, but seeing classes like AP Psychology and such would be awesome in the future. Allowing IDEA students to take more AP classes geared towards their majors in the future will greatly help them! Overall, I think Idea Walzem is a great, comforting, and safe environment, but having some academic variety would be amazing for the future graduating classes.... Read 19 reviews

• grade B

• Students 728

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  12 reviews

Junior: What I adore most about my particular school is the small amount of students we have. Due to the sizes of our classrooms and graduating classes, teachers are able to focus on students much more and create connections that could be limited in an extremely large school. One thing I would improve is the use of student voice in important decision-making conversations. I believe this because it is all for the students and a lack of that understanding and experience could greatly effect the outcome. Seeing a difference in this way would improve student-experience, students’ grades, social experience, and so much more.... Read 12 reviews

• grade B

• Students 455

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Southwest Preparatory School, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• Students 92

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Premier High Schools, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.75 out of 5  8 reviews

Senior: My experience while attending Premier High School was overall relaxing for me. I have anxiety and tend to get easily overwhelmed in large crowds and cannot concentrate in large classrooms. So the small classes and privacy that was available for me, was very helpful and made me feel comfortable in the environment that I was in. The teachers are very understanding and helpful with anything you may not understand about the curriculum. Most teachers are younger and therefore give off a more approachable energy for students as well as myself. I liked the flexibility regarding school hours. Overall, being a student at Premier has helped me love learning new things and also helped me embrace my introspective personality a lot more.... Read 8 reviews

• grade B

• Students 127

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• George Gervin Academy, TX•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Niche User: I was at George Gervin Academy from 5th grade to 9th grade and it was an overall good experience for me, it taught me many good things. The teachers here are amazing and always go out of their way for their students, I learned so many things not just about school but about life from the teachers I had over the years and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Although the school is small, and can be thought of negatively by others, it overall is a good school and I think more people should be aware of it.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B

• Students 753

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• New Frontiers Charter School, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.61 out of 5  36 reviews

Alum: The school is very welcoming, accepting, and helpful. Everyone from the staff, teachers, and even the students are willing to work together and help each other with anything. The staff oftens checks up on students to ensureeverything is going smoothly and the students are safe. Students have more freedom than in others schools, and are allowed to wear what they want as long as it is not too showy. However students have more responsibilites. The coursework is at times very demanding and students who procrastinate too much or don't put effort in their education will not be able to do well. Since the school also has students take college courses, students are responsible for seeking help if they are struggling and the teachers expect students to be serious about their education.... Read 36 reviews

• grade B

• Students 164

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• San Antonio Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  67 reviews

Senior: It's one decision and experience to choose an everyday high school but to choose a high school that offers college courses for an early head start if you're considering going to college after high school is truly amazing. It even provides certification for the following fields: nursing, cyber security, culinary, and automotive. Including an opportunity to get a associates degree when you leave high school which is the Liberal Arts pathway. Each course and its material are free, but you can always buy other materials that can help. That's the surface of its academic given but the interaction between students, high school staff, teachers, college staff, and college students. It's just a matter of how you act, what you say, and what your intentions are. It can be a great thing or a bad thing, but it gives you an idea of what college can be. The campus has events such as culture fest, college fair, and events that based on the field of study as health fair or car show.... Read 67 reviews

• grade B

• Students 342

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Kipp Texas Public Schools, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  208 reviews

Junior: KIPP University prep is a college preparatory high school that offers ib and ap courses for all eligible students for a chance to earn college credit. I am currently Enrolled in the ib program and I am enjoying it immensely. I have been at KIPP my entire high school career and it has helped me immensely with college prep. We have counselors who are walking us every step of the way to college whether that being applying for scholarships and fafsa to learning about different programs that will offer financial aid, internships, and other incentives. They also offer moral support because they understand the stresses of taking college level courses while still looking for our desired colleges and majors. I love waking up and going to an establishment that understands and seeks to help me prepare for everything my future holds. KIPP has made sure all students know their potential and I am glad to be on this journey to the rest of my life with their support .... Read 208 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 803

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• San Antonio, TX•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  52 reviews

Parent: Our daughter has become more outgoing and confident after just one year at HFA. The students and staff are all great people and in this day and age that isn't easy to find when you're talking about teens. She loves art and anything creative and the teachers at HFA are able to incorporate an element of creativity into almost every class assignment. The education she has received at HFA has allowed her to continue on a path to graduation by preparing her to pass all her STAAR exams. Although UIL sports are not available, many opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities exist in the form of clubs and partnerships like the one with San Antonio Sound Garden and the basketball club. If your child is looking for a holistic approach to education HFA is definitely a place I would recommend looking into. You won't regret it!... Read 52 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 102

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Idea Public Schools, TX•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  17 reviews

Junior: I especially love this school's work ethic and drive for academics and college preparation. There is an established culture that most follow, and teachers actually care about student achievements and overall academic success. However, one problem that seems to remain constant is a lack of effective administrative communication, which often leads to a relative prevalence of disorganization. Also, in my personal opinion, there is not a satisfactory variety of electives concerning the arts, specifically music.... Read 17 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1