Welcome to the virtual charter fair!

Creating Choice & Inspiring Innovation

Charter schools are independent public schools with the freedom to innovate while being held accountable for improved student achievement. They foster partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are empowered, and students excel.

Charter schools measure academic success in a number of ways, including state tests, nationally accepted student growth measures, school-based assessments, and student portfolios and presentations.

Click the button below to learn more about being a charter school parent.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Application & Lottery Information by District

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

The lottery window for the 2025-2026 school year will open at noon on October 7, 2024 and close at noon on November 7, 2024 at noon. EXCEPTION: New Village Academy (NVA), the new public charter high school in Annapolis opening Fall 2025, applications are accepted until January 17, 2025. The AAPCS portal is open for applications for NVA, and any other charter school that still has openings. If you have any questions regarding charter/contract school enrollment, please reach out directly to the school in which you wish to apply. 

More information and updates about open houses and application information nights can be found on the AACPS Programs of Choice page.

Lottery Portal Link- Click on the provided link to submit your application to be included into a charter or contract school's lottery. https://magnet.aacps.org/webapps/aacps_magnet/LogIn.aspx

More information about the lottery can be found on the Anne Arundel County Public Schools website

BALTIMORE CITY

Baltimore City Public Schools' 2025-2026 lottery schedule is as follows:

• December 14: Annual School Choice fair held at the Baltimore Convention Center (10a-3p)

• February 3: Deadline for accepting enrollment applications from families

• Charter schools have their own application process. Please reach out directly to schools of interest for more information.

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Applications are submitted directly to the public charter school. Applications are due to the school by January 15, 2025.

CHARLES COUNTY

Check with the school for the lottery date. 

FREDERICK COUNTY

Applications are submitted to the charter schools. The lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will open on Jan. 2, 2025. It will be closed on March 12, 2025. Frederick County Public Schools Website

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Applications are submitted through the district, and the window for enrollment is November 1, 2024 through February 7, 2025 . The last day to submit lottery application for all charter schools is February 7, 2025 for school year 2025-2026.

The link to access the lottery application is here, more information about individual charter schools’ open houses can be found here. Please note that you need a PGCPS student identification number in order to submit an application, which you can request by first enrolling in your neighborhood school here. If you do not have a PGCPS student identification number, you must request one at least 48 hours prior to the close of a lottery application deadline. If you have school specific questions, please reach out to that school directly.

St. MARY’S  COUNTY

Applications are submitted directly to the public charter school. If you have specific questions, please reach out to the school directly. St. Mary’s County Public Schools Website