Can Charter Schools Deny Students?

Charter schools are public schools that are granted autonomy to set their own policies and curriculum. This often allows charter schools to be more innovative and forward-thinking in their educational approach, but the same laws and regulations as traditional public schools still govern them. One of these regulations is the ability to deny enrollment to students based on various factors.

According to the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, a charter school is allowed to refuse to admit any pupil who has been expelled from another educational institution or who is in the process of being expelled from another educational institution. However, based on their mission or other factors, some charter schools may still accept students who have been expelled.

While charter schools are independent from traditional school district control and are funded through private donations, taxpayer dollars, or both, they still must follow certain laws, such as those related to equal opportunity. In general, charter schools have the ability to set their own admission policies, which does not guarantee that all students will be admitted. 

At the Rose Academies, our five locations across Tucson always enroll and aim to tailor the educational experience to each student’s needs. With self-paced courses and a team of onsite, supportive teachers, the Rose Academies offer credit recovery and personalized schedules to help our students reach their goal of graduation. To learn more, please continue exploring our website.