2022 Best Charter Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area

University Preparatory Academy Charter School

• Public School
• SAN JOSE, CA
• 7-12
• Rating 3.81 out of 5  180 reviews

Middle School Student: I am a incoming freshman and I attended 7th and 8th grade at UPA. My experience with the teachers and staff was very good. My teachers always made me feel like my education was important and they always did their best at teaching the material. Every single administrator within this school cares about their students, and I can promise you that. The only issue I have is with the high stress culture surrounding academics. UPA students are high achievers, but many should learn that getting higher grades than your classmates is not the most important thing. I hope that toxic aspect of UPA's environment changes!
Read 180 Reviews

• grade A+

• 698 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Yu Ming Charter School

• Public School
• OAKLAND, CA
• K-8
• Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: Great school, I go there and I love it so much! There are a lot of different things you can do but I love how it also teaches me mandarin and it also is super strong on math and English even though its half Chinese!
Read 2 Reviews

• grade A+

• 487 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The New School of San Francisco

• Public School
• SAN FRANCISCO, CA
• K-5
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Amazing curriculum, teachers, parent involvement, communication, and culture. I haven’t seen anything like it at other schools, public or private.
Read 1 Review

• grade A+

• 288 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bullis Charter School

• Public School
• LOS ALTOS, CA
• K-8
• Rating 4 out of 5  13 reviews

Parent: Teachers work as a team to deliver an integrated curriculum that covers the subjects through selected themes/topics that integrates all the learning.

The arts and music teachers standout in terms of what they are able to do to engage all students in amazing productions.

They are also innovative, creative, flexible, free to IMPROVE on a continuous basis.
Read 13 Reviews

• grade A+

• 1,039 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Discovery Charter School

• Public School
• SAN JOSE, CA
• K-8
• Rating 4.54 out of 5  13 reviews

Alum: I got the benefit of going to this school because all my older brothers were already going there. I went to DCS all the way from kindergarten to eighth grade. There are so many things that this school offers which you will never find anywhere else. One of the things that might either seem like a pro or a con is that DCS is very reliant on parent participation. This participation often makes school a lot easier as a young child. Though if you worry that as a parent you wouldn't be able to participate whether it be due to a job or something, don't worry about it! DCS is very understanding and only encourages parent participation if possible. Another great thing about DCS is that they really focus on building the skills you will need to succeed late in life. They might not give you as much homework and so it might seem that it is easier, but realistically they are just trying to get away from the idea of working for the grade rather than the gaining of knowledge and understanding.
Read 13 Reviews

• grade A

• 569 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ross Valley Charter

• Public School
• FAIRFAX, CA
• K-5
• Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: New location in downtown Fairfax. Huge site. Multi age program. Teachers engage students with childs interests. Parent involvement, staff very in touch with school. Wecoming to all families. Great support for children that do not connect in traditional classrooms.
Read 2 Reviews

• grade A

• 194 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Summit Public School - Shasta Campus

• Public School
• DALY CITY, CA
• 9-12
• Rating 4.09 out of 5  65 reviews

Senior: Honestly, I really loved Shasta the minute I arrived on campus my freshman year; however, things have changed in the three years since.

For the first couple of years, you really felt heard as a student if the vast majority agreed with you. Workshops? You got it. More study time? Mhm! Since the new head of Summit Schools took over, we as a community have not felt acknowledged or respected as students because of how ignored our complaints have gone. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE this school and everything it has to offer. The teachers actually listen to you and help you whenever and wherever possible, but the heads of Summit (all schools) don't help.

Academics are amazing and I feel I'm ready for college as a Senior. Here, I found many of my passions and have grown as a better, more confident individual. Every student can find someone they trust and something they love about the school.
Read 65 Reviews

• grade A

• 469 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Francophone Charter School of Oakland

• Public School
• OAKLAND, CA
• K-8
• Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: We've been here for a few years now. I have been extremely impressed with the teaching. We attended a private French immersion school before this, and I think that academically speaking, this is very similar in terms of the teaching and curriculum, only it's free! I'd also say the student/family community is very warm and diverse in every sense of the word. So we're very glad we made the switch. It is still a growing school and sometimes the systems and processes are a bit messy and disorganized, that I would say is the main downside.
Read 3 Reviews

• grade A

• 289 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

San Carlos Charter Learning Center

• Public School
• SAN CARLOS, CA
• K-8
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: Charter is a very good school with lots of group projects and involvement. They have lots of special activities and programs for children with learning difficulties. Parents are super involved and teachers are committed and ready to provide 1:1 guidance. For children who need advanced studies, the teachers will provide differential learning. The students are super friendly and ready to learn. There is a lot of focus on social emotional learning and teamwork. The administration is kind and helpful. The school applies Project Based Learning and hand-on activities. Students get lots of choice in what they do.

My one problem though, is that in the new campus made of shipping containers, whenever there is motion on the top floor, it makes a really loud sound on the bottom floor. This becomes a real difficulty for students k-2 and in the library. But they are working it out in different ways including doing a fun art project with egg cartons.
Read 1 Review

• grade A

• 384 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

White Oaks Elementary School

• San Carlos Elementary School District, CA
• K-3

• grade A

• 310 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mission Preparatory

• Public School
• SAN FRANCISCO, CA
• PK, K-8
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: I'm a current student in Mission Preparatory and it's great. Since it's a new school, I think it should have more clubs and sports, but academics are great. Teachers and staff are very supportive and encouraging.
Read 1 Review

• grade A

• 426 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alameda Community Learning Center

• Public School
• ALAMEDA, CA
• 6-12
• Rating 3.63 out of 5  24 reviews

Junior: The class sizes at my school are small, so teachers can individually help every student. The school population is also small. More people leave than those who apply so all of us are pretty close. The low school population is mostly due to the size of our campus, and our general lack of regular high school things like sports games, band, and theatre. The main upside of our school from an academic standpoint is that students are required to take classes at the nearby community college, and the school pays for the classes. In my sophomore year, I took Psychology 101 and Beginners Ceramics. These college classes gave me the opportunity to explore my interests, meet people in different fields, and get college credits (which will make college cheaper for me). Another upside of my school is that the teachers that stay care about us. My digital music teacher is like a father to many, and my humanities teachers feel like mentors. I feel that I made a good choice, attending ACLC
Read 24 Reviews

• grade A

• 358 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Heather Elementary School

• San Carlos Elementary School District, CA
• K-3

• grade A

• 304 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Arundel Elementary School

• San Carlos Elementary School District, CA
• K-3

• grade A

• 409 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oakland School for the Arts

• Public School
• OAKLAND, CA
• 6-12
• Rating 3.79 out of 5  146 reviews

Alum: Oakland School for the Arts is an amazing community for young artists, and one I'm super grateful to have been a part of. It's definitely made for artsy kids though, rather than those looking for a lot of academic rigor. There is a lot of academic teacher turnover, but the arts teachers for the most part stay consistent and are truly the glue holding the whole operation together! Despite sort of average stats, I give OSA a high rating because of everything I gained from such an arts-friendly and supportive learning environment. The shift to online arts classes seems to be doing alright.
Read 146 Reviews

• grade A

• 793 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Tierra Linda Middle School

• San Carlos Elementary School District, CA
• 6-8
• Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: The school and school district have been very helpful during the distance learning transition. Very transparent on what's happening and how for parents to help their students.

School resources and teaching quality are good. Just like any school, how much you get out of it depends on how much you put in.
Read 2 Reviews

• grade A

• 500 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Leadership Public Schools - Hayward

• Public School
• HAYWARD, CA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.9 out of 5  265 reviews

Senior: Leadership Public School is a charter school that focuses on building leadership based on respect, responsibility, and respect. The school has a wide variety of extracurriculars that help develop the student's career and interests like Makers and Drama. I had a lot of fun in these classes and fell in love with theater after having drama during my freshman year. Maker class thought me to work collaboratively to build physical projects and often had to problem-solve to develop our projects such as making shoes or building an arcade game. This high school takes the community to a different level, town hall every Friday often allows for competition between every class, in the middle of the ceremony we shout out the royal of the week, which is a royal that has shined during the week. We also end up with a chant before we leave that everyone has to do correctly so that we can leave, It's kinda culty but we all love it. Overall a school filled with very respectful and open-minded students.
Read 265 Reviews

• grade A

• 601 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Everest Public High School

• Public School
• REDWOOD CITY, CA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.52 out of 5  181 reviews

Junior: I love Everest because it is highly a small school! It gives me the opportunity to reach out to my teachers, getting one on one help, and overall create relationships with them. It is definitely a college prep school where we are surrounded by my technology and playlists that help us independently study on our own. We have a tradition every year where all freshman, sophomore, junior, and seniors go on a camping trip and create community bondings! It is diverse which makes me feel more like at home since I am from East Palo Alto and not Redwood City. They give the best elective classes that are UC Approved, for example, Ethnic Studies, in which a few schools don't really include. I am in my Junior year and had spent the last 2 in a half years has an unweighted GPA of a 4.0. Everest gives all students the opportunity to be in AP classes to give them the challenge of their education. Overall, it is a great school and can't believe I am leaving in less than 2 years!
Read 181 Reviews

• grade A

• 409 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Summit Public School - Denali Campus

• Public School
• SUNNYVALE, CA
• 6-12
• Rating 4.14 out of 5  21 reviews

Senior: Denali is a good school to choose if you’re looking for a support structure from teachers. However the students are relatively cliquey and it could be hard to make friends. In my experience Denali caters mostly to future STEM majors who plan on enrolling in a 4 year university and has little to no liberal, visual, or music arts focus. Denali also doesn’t provide sufficient resources for students who choose to take a less traditional career/after high school path, though this may change, as they’ve only had two senior classes so far. The teachers are passionate about their students and actually do care, but teacher retention is not Denali’s strong suit. Despite all this, it’s still a million times more preferable than traditional public school as there is far more support available from teachers, the school is flexible, classes are smaller, resources are easier to come by, and they teach you much more about adult life than a public school would.
Read 21 Reviews

• grade A

• 609 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oakland Charter High School

• Public School
• OAKLAND, CA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.27 out of 5  159 reviews

Alum: IF YOU TRY TO SURVIVE IN THIS SCHOOL WITH EASY A, DON'T TAKE CHEE's CLASS! But overall Counselor and some of the teachers are very supportative and guide your way to college.
Read 159 Reviews

• grade A

• 461 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alpha: Cornerstone Academy Preparatory

• Public School
• SAN JOSE, CA
• K-8

• grade A

• 538 Students
• 29:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Circle of Independent Learning Charter School

• Fremont Unified School District, CA
• K-12
• Rating 4.28 out of 5  29 reviews

Parent: The pandemic year was a perfect time for us to try COIL. My son had begged me to homeschool him for over a year, and being in the tradition public school classroom was not working for him. I wish I had listened to him earlier. Within one semester at COIL, my son was able to rehabilitate his relationship with learning while building the confidence and the skills to do independent learning. It is amazing thing to see your child thrive again after years of a downward trend. He is actually getting A’s B’s and have favorite subjects that are not recess again. COIL has been a wonderful resource for kids who don’t fit well in a traditional public school setting for various reasons, from being able to advance at one’s own pace at math, extracurricular pursuits, athletics, to medical health reasons. It has helped me to understand my learners and work with them and try different things that would not be possible in a traditional public school setting.
Read 29 Reviews

• grade A

• 385 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Clayton Valley Charter High School

• Public School
• CONCORD, CA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.84 out of 5  166 reviews

Sophomore: I love Clayton Valley so much. Due to it being a charter school, there are so many opportunities for students to pursue including specialized classes based on future career interests. The clubs are amazing and there are over 50 of them! Sports teams at Clayton Valley are impeccable and give students a shot at physically exceeding their limits. The social environment is fantastic and everyone can find their niche they feel comfortable in!
Read 166 Reviews

• grade A

• 2,234 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Downtown Charter Academy

• Public School
• OAKLAND, CA
• 6-8
• Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Middle School Student: Downtown Charter Academy has taught me not to judge people too quickly based on just one thing. Instead, I was taught to give the person a chance before I judge them. This school has great staff members and will treat you well if you treat them just as well!
Read 4 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 326 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

KIPP Summit Academy

• Public School
• SAN LORENZO, CA
• 5-8
• Rating 3.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Sophomore: The teachers of KIPP: Summit were some of the most supportive, caring people I've had the honor to meet. The care they put into each student really set each and every one of us up for high school. Expectations were high, and teachers set up students to meet the challenge. While the school was fantastic academically and supportively, I would have liked to see more experience outside the classroom. Funding for the school is limited, and is therefore put less into field trips and activities. However, the amount of time and care each teacher puts into the school is unmatched anywhere else, and outweighs the lack of funding for field trips and extra-curricular's.
Read 11 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 416 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio