Tennessee’s public charter schools face an estimated $1,500 per-pupil facilities funding gap compared to traditional public schools, according to new data from the Tennessee Charter School Center (TCSC).
The findings, drawn from a 2025 statewide survey of 67 charter schools, underscore ongoing challenges in acquiring, maintaining, and renovating school buildings, obstacles that advocates say can directly impact student learning environments.
While charter schools operate publicly and serve more than 38 thousand Tennessee students, they often do not have the same access to district-owned buildings or dedicated capital funding streams as traditional public schools. As a result, many rely on leasing private or non-district properties, often requiring extensive renovations before becoming student-ready…