Number of U.S. charter schools surpasses 6,000

News release: The number of public charter schools operating in the United States has surpassed 6,000 for the first time, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools says. The figures are based on estimates from the 2012-13 school year. The 6,000 public charter schools are educating more than 2.3 million students — also a record number. The public charter school movement has had a net gain of 381 schools for the 2012-13 school year. Charter schools are enrolling 275,000 more students this year than in 2011-12.