Charter schools have been described as a hybrid between public and private schools. They are considered public schools, being funded by local, state, and federal tax revenues. The Texas Legislature has capped the number of charters, or contracts, available in the state at 215; most of those operating now are “open enrollment” charters, meaning that that, for the most part, all students in the school district are eligible for admissions.

 The curricula of charter schools must match that in the Texas Education Code; this takes the form of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (see the article at http://bit.ly/12cqRw for more details). The schools must also adhere to state graduation, special education, and bilingual education requirements, as well as administering state assessments, just as traditional public schools.

For a national listing of charter schools, see Info 101: Comprehensive national directory of charter schools

ABILENE/TAYLOR COUNTY

Premier High School of Abilene
http://www.premierhighschools.com/Abilene.html
Abilene
6-12

AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY
  
Ameican Youth Works
http://www.americanyouthworks.org
Austin
9-12, AE
  
Austin CAN Academy 
http://www.texanscan.org/academies_austin.asp
Austin
9-12 
  
Austin Discovery School
http://www.austindiscoveryschool.org
Austin
K-5 
  
Cedars International Academy
http://cedars-academy.org
Austin
K-7 
  
The East Austin College Prep Academy
http://www.swkey.org/charterschool.html
Austin
  
Eden Park Academy
http://www.edenparkacademy.com
Austin
K-8
  
Harmony School of Science
http://hssaustin.org
Austin
K-8 
  
Harmony Science Academy
http://www.hsaaustin.org/
Austin
6-12 
  
Harmony School of Excellence
http://www.hseaustin.org/default.asp
Austin
K-8 
  
KIPP Austin Collegiate
http://www.kippaustin.org/186/Home.html
Austin
9-12 
  
KIPP AUSTIN COLLEGE PREP
http://www.kippaustin.org/184/Home.html
Austin
5-8 

KIPP Austin Academy of Arts & Letters
http://www.kippaustin.org/307/Home.html
Austin
5-8
  
NYOS Charter School
http://www.nyos.org
Austin
PK-12 
 
Premier High School of Austin
http://www.premierhighschools.com/Austin.html
Austin
8-12 
  
Premier High School of North Austin
http://www.premierhighschools.com/NorthAustin.html
Austin
9-12 
  
Star Charter School
http://www.starcharterschool.org
Austin
1-12
  
Texas Empowerment  Academy
http://www.texasempowerment.org
Austin
1-10 
    
University of Texas Elementary Charter School
http://www.utelementary.org/
Austin
PK-5 
  
Settlement Home
http://www.settlementhome.org/
Austin
6-12 
  
National Elite Gumnastics
http://www.neg-usa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=33&Itemid=26
Austin
3-8 
  
George M Kozmetsky School
http://www.utexas.edu/ce/ucs/
Austin
K-5 
  
TNC Campus (TEXAS NEUROREHABILITATION CENTER)
http://texas.webschoolpro.com/TX227806024/
Austin
2-10 
  
THE Oaks Treatment Center
http://www.utexas.edu/ce/ucs/
Austin
1-12 
  
Helping Hand
http://www.utexas.edu/ce/ucs/
Austin
K-5 
  
FORT WORTH /TARRANT COUNTY
  
Chapel Hill Academy
http://www.chapelhillacademycharterschool.org/
Fort Worth
PK-2 
  
East Forth Worth Montessori Academy
http://www.efwma.org/efwma/site/default.asp
Fort Worth
PK-5 
  
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts 
http://www.fwafa.com/
Fort Worth
3-12
  
Fort Worth CAN Academy 
http://www.texanscan.org/academies_ftworth.asp
Fort Worth
9-12, AE
  
Fort Worth CAN Academy -- River Oaks
http://www.texanscan.org/academies_riveroaks.asp
Fort Worth
9-12, AE
  
Harmony Science Academy
http://www.hsatx.org/
Fort worth
K-12
  
Pinnacle School 
http://www.honorsacademy.org/
Fort Worth
K-8  
  
EXCEL Center
http://www.mams.charter.k12.tx.us/
Fort Worth
K-12
  
Premier High School
http://www.premierhighschools.com/FortWorth.html
Fort Worth
6-12
  
Richard Milburn Academy
http://www.milburnschools.org/articles/rma_fort_worth_tx
Fort Worth
9-12
  
North Texas Elementary School of the Arts
http://www.ntesa.org/
Fort Worth
K-6
  
SAN ANGELO/TOM GREEN COUNTY
  
TLC Academy
http://www.tlca-sa.com/ 
San Angelo
1-12
  
WACO/MCLENNAN COUNTY
  
Harmony Science Academy
http://hsawaco.org/
Waco
K-9
  
Paul and Jane Meyer Public  High School
http://www.rapoportacademy.org/index.php/meyer-high-school
Waco
9-11
  
Audre and Bernard Rapoport Academy
http://www.rapoportacademy.org/index.php/rapoport-elementary-school
Waco
PK-4
  
Quinn MiddlenSchool
http://www.rapoportacademy.org/index.php/quinn-middle-school
Waco
5-8
  
Premier High School
http://premierhighschools.com/Waco.html
Waco
6-12
  
Methodist Children's Home
http://www.methodistchildrenshome.org/educational-services.html
Waco
6-12
  
Waco Charter School 
Waco
K-5