Guide to School Choice in the Oklahoma City Area

Are you feeling completely overwhelmed with the seemingly limitless school options? Between public schools, private schools, charter schools, virtual schools, and homeschool, the pressure can feel high to make the “right choice” for your family. Thankfully, Oklahoma City offers incredible educational opportunities under all of these umbrellas. This curated resource will help you navigate these important decisions.

Discover the potential Oklahoma City has for your child’s educational journey, and let this guide help you navigate the world of school choice.

What is school choice?

School choice refers to the ability of a parent to put their child in the best available school for that child, regardless of that family’s zip code or income. The state of Oklahoma has determined that every child in the state should be educated and that taxpayer dollars will be spent for this purpose. However, a parent should not be restricted to sending their child only to the local neighborhood school if that school is not the best fit for that child. Parents should be allowed to utilize at least a portion of the tax dollars allocated for their child’s education to explore the available options, whether those options are public, charter, private, or otherwise. (Source: oklahoma.gov)

ASTEC Charter Schools – Classrooms that focus on the core values of Content, Character, Competency, and Community. Serves students at elementary, middle, and high school campuses.

Dove Science Academy – Dove Science Academy High School in OKC offers advanced 9-12 education in STEM, character education, and comprehensive college readiness programs.

Harding Charter Preparatory – Currently operates three schools: Harding Charter Preparatory High, Harding Charter Preparatory Middle School, and Harding Charter Preparatory Elementary School. Combined, they serve nearly 1,075 diverse students.

Harding Fine Arts Academy – Awarded best charter school of the year in 2019, Harding Fine Arts Academy prides itself on its rigorous learning environment, arts integration, and individualized attention for college, prep, and high school students.

John Rex Charter School – Provides a unique educational experience in downtown OKC that prepares all students for success in high school, college, career, and life. Currently serves Pre-K through 8th grade.

KIPP OKC – Public charter school that offers a joyful and academically excellent learning environment for PreK-3^rd and 6^th-8^th grades.

Le Monde International School – French and Spanish immersion school in Norman that prepares students for a successful future by promoting academic excellence. Emphasis is placed on rigorous instruction, bilingualism, critical thinking, and the integration of cultural awareness.

Oklahoma Public Montessori Initiative – A newly established, tuition-free public charter school grounded in the belief that strong communities are essential to every child’s success.

Proud to Partner Leadership Academy – Premier high school model that champions leadership, academic excellence, and social responsibility. Committed to preparing all students for post-secondary success through aligned community partnerships.

Stanley Hupfeld Academy – Neighborhood charter school that serves the children in its attendance area rather than selecting students from a pool of applicants. Grades PreK-5th.

Santa Fe South Schools – Proud to offer a rigorous academic program for students PK-12 across South OKC since 2001. 

Western Gateway Elementary – Through a rigorous curriculum and an emphasis on cultural learning experiences, the neighborhood public charter school offers a unique education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds.

W.K. Jackson Leadership Academy – Provides all students with free, high-quality, disciplined, instructional blended educational opportunities. Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math curriculum for PreK through 3rd Grade.

Braintree Academy – Innovative virtual education that provides personalized and flexible learning pathways for PreK-9th grade. They provide a choice in learning materials, instruction, and curriculum along with free monthly field trips.

Dove Virtual Academy – Dove Virtual Academy delivers a comprehensive, tuition-free PK-12 online education in Oklahoma, focused on STEM, character, and college readiness.

E-School Virtual Charter Academy – Serving students from Kindergarten through 12th grade a high-quality, rigorous curriculum that exceeds Oklahoma standards.

EPIC Charter Schools – Epic Charter Schools is Oklahoma’s largest public virtual charter school. It’s among the largest of its kind in the U.S., serving approximately 30,000 students from PreK-12th grade in all 77 counties statewide.

Insight School of Oklahoma – Dedicated to inspiring and empowering 6th-12th grade students through education tailored to their needs. Multiple learning pathways and approaches available, along with enrichment programs, group remediation, field trips, social events, clubs, and more.

Oklahoma Connections Academy – Builds 1:1 connections with each Kindergartener through senior to provide an individualized educational experience.

Oklahoma Virtual Charter School – Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) is a full-time online public school for K–12 students. They’re dedicated to inspiring and empowering students through an education experience tailored to each child’s needs.

Virtual Preparatory Academy of Oklahoma – Believes that every student deserves an opportunity to be understood, inspired, and successful in a safe and nurturing environment. For Kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) Scholarship program provides scholarships to a participating private school of choice for PK3 through 12th grade students with special needs who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• The student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or Individualized Service Plan (ISP), developed by a public school, or has been determined eligible for special education services by a public school in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• The student has had an Individualized Service Plan written by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
• The student is a child of a member of the United States Armed Forces who transfers to a school in this state from out of state or from a foreign country pursuant to a permanent change of station orders of the parent.
• The student was in out-of-home placement with DHS.
• The student was adopted while in permanent custody of DHS.
• The student is enrolling or is enrolled in a school that exclusively serves students experiencing homelessness.
• The student was in out-of-home placement with the Office of Juvenile Affairs.
  source: oklahoma.gov

For more information on the application process, eligibility, application forms, and more, please visit the Oklahoma Department of Education website.

The Parental Choice Tax Credit program is a refundable income tax credit for eligible Oklahoma taxpayers between $5,000-$7,500 for qualified expenses such as tuition and fees toward an eligible private school. The state has a limited amount of tax credits per year, so priority is given to eligible students whose parents have a combined federal adjusted gross income less than $150,000. Approved applications will receive the credit in two installment payments.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission website has fantastic, easy-to-follow YouTube videos guiding you through the application process. You can also find an answer to most of your application, expense, and tax-related questions on this page, too!

Click here for a list of participating accredited schools.