Alternative Choices

Photo of a parent home schooling two children.

Charter Schools
The mission of the Office of Charter Schools is to provide leadership and technical assistance to people interested in starting a public charter school and thereafter maintaining quality education, business, and governance programs within the school in compliance with the North Carolina Charter Schools Act (NCGS115C-238.29).

Home-Schooling
Information about home-schooling by the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)

Private Schools
Information about private schools by the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)

Laboratory Schools
The UNC Lab School initiative aims to provide enhanced educational programming to students in low-performing schools and to plan demonstration sites for the preparation of future teachers and school administrators.

NC Virtual Public School
The purpose of the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is to provide e-learning opportunities to students.

Tarheel ChalleNGe
Tarheel ChalleNGe Academies are institutions developed by the National Guard to give teens who are at-risk a second chance. Students live in a military-like environment and are provided with the structure and discipline needed to help them redirect their lives.