The annual Orange County School Choice Fair is coming up on January 31 at Santa Ana College, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.. This event is organized by La Union de Padres in collaboration with the National School Choice Awareness Foundation.
Event Location: Phillips Hall Parking Lot, 1530 W 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92706.
This free event will feature student performances, free food and free raffles.
This is your chance to learn about the free high-performing public charter school options that are available in Orange County for frades TK-12.
Sponsors include:
- Vista Condor Global Academy
- Legacy College Prep
- Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy
- Nova Academy
- Springs Charter Schools
- TLC Public Charter Schools
- El Triunfo
- Taylion Academy
- The SAUSD
- The Garden Grove Unified School District
- Cristo Rey Orange County High School
- Palm Lane Global Academy
- Ednovate Orange County College Prep
- Karate Do
For more information contact Ceci Iglesias at 714-485-6396 or by email at launiondepadres@gmail.com. Visit www.launiondepadres.com.
Orange County Charter and Private School Enrollment Data
In Orange County, California, approximately 20% of school-aged children are enrolled in either charter or private schools for the 2025–2026 school year.
While the majority of students attend traditional district-run public schools, there has been a steady shift toward alternative education models as total public school enrollment in the county continues to decline.
Enrollment Breakdown (2025–2026)
- Private Schools: ~14%
Orange County has one of the highest private school enrollment rates in California, significantly exceeding the state average of 10%. For the 2026 school year, there are approximately 393 private schools serving 74,066 students in the county. - Charter Schools: ~6%
Charter school enrollment has grown steadily from 2.4% a decade ago to approximately 6% today. There are currently about 36 charter schools operating within the county.
Key Trends
- Declining Public Enrollment: Total public school enrollment in Orange County is projected at roughly 429,869 students for 2025–2026, a significant drop from over 497,000 a decade ago. This decline is attributed to lower birth rates and rising housing costs.
- Rising Popularity of Alternatives: While public district enrollment has fallen for seven consecutive years, private school enrollment in the county grew by over 4% between 2021 and 2025.
- Charter Growth: Orange County remains the third-largest county in California but has a lower charter enrollment percentage (6%) compared to other large counties like Los Angeles and San Diego, which both exceed 16%.
Performance Factors (2026 Data)
- Duration Matters: Students who remain in a charter school for four or more years tend to show significantly stronger academic outcomes than those who switch frequently.
- Demographic Gains: Charter schools in California have shown particularly strong results in closing achievement gaps for Hispanic and low-income students compared to traditional district counterparts.
- Special Education: In contrast, some studies show that students receiving special education services may have smaller learning gains in charter settings compared to traditional public schools.