charter school

American  

[chahr-ter skool] / ˈtʃɑr tər ˌskul /

noun

1. an autonomous public school created by a contract between a sponsor, as a local school district or corporation, and an organizer, as a group of teachers or a community group, often with a curriculum or focus that is not traditional.

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Etymology

Origin of charter school

First recorded in 1800–10; current use dates from 1985–90

Example Sentences

In response, districts including Malakoff ISD in Texas and at least one charter school in Arizona canceled scheduled Lifetouch photos, with some officials announcing they would keep pictures “in-house for the rest of the year.”

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

The New York Post reported in December that Mr. Mamdani had rebuffed an offer to meet with charter school operators to discuss how they can work together.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Kiley is a now a freshman at a charter school in West Los Angeles, where she knows of just one other student from the Palisades whose home burned on Jan. 7.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

As ICE raids escalated last summer, the charter school ramped up supervision, posting staff members around bus and train stations to watch students arrive and leave.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

Luma had gotten Bien into a nearby charter school that focused on immigrants and refugees.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John