A new count put out by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools found that there are a record 6,000 charter schools serving 2.3 million students for the 2012-13 school year.
Overall, charter schools had a net gain of 381 schools for the 2012-13 school year, adding up to a 7 percent growth in the number of charter schools from last year as well as a 13 percent growth in the charter school enrollment from last year.
The vast majority of new charter schools opened in five states: California (81 new schools), Florida (67), Texas (41), New York (25), and Michigan (23).
This represents a continuation of steady charter school growth that kicked off about five years ago, said NAPCS president and chief executive officer Nina Rees.
California topped the list of the states closing the most charter schools in 2011-12, with 28. Florida closed 17 schools, Wisconsin closed 16, and Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, and Michigan all closed 10 schools each.