The number of NC private school vouchers has doubled. Here’s how to apply for one.
The number of families receiving private school vouchers has more than doubled since last year and could see another big increase as families apply for new Opportunity Scholarships this fall.
Figures released Feb. 3 from the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority show that 79,372 students have received $382.8 million in Opportunity Scholarships this school year. That’s a 144% increase over last school year when 32,549 students received $185.5 million in vouchers.
The higher numbers reflect how state lawmakers boosted funding and opened the voucher program to all families regardless of their income level. Another surge could happen for the 2025-26 school year when lawmakers plan to provide $625 million in Opportunity Scholarships.
It’s unclear at this point how many of the new voucher recipients had been attending private schools before this school year. But data from other states shows that it’s primarily existing private school families who get the vouchers after the program is expanded.
Here’s a look at the voucher numbers and what you need to know if you want one.
Who’s getting a voucher now?
The state’s figure show far fewer Black and Hispanic students receive vouchers when compared to their numbers in traditional public schools.
According to the state data, 74% of voucher recipients are white with the next biggest group being Black students at 11%. The State Education Assistance Authority lists Hispanic as an ethnic instead of racial category. Eleven percent of voucher recipients identified themselves as Hispanic.
The state Department of Public Instruction lists Hispanic as a racial group, and those students account for 22% of the students in traditional public schools this year. DPI lists the two largest student groups by racial category as white students at 43% and Black students at 24%.
Wake County has the most Opportunity Scholarship students in the state with 10,466, followed by Mecklenburg County with 7,788 students.
Who can apply?
Any family who plans to attend a K-12 private school that accepts funding from the Opportunity Scholarship program can apply. Families will need to create a MyPortal account to apply. There’s more information at www.k12.ncseaa.edu.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 6. It’s not first-come, first-served.
Applicants will be grouped into one of four tiers based on their family income. Awards will be given out, starting with families in the lowest income tier, until the money runs out.
The program initially ran out of money for this school year before lawmakers increased funding to clear a 55,000-student backlog. The extra funding wasn’t approved until November, so many families didn’t begin using their voucher funding until the spring semester.
How much can families get?
The amounts for individual scholarship awards are increasing for the 2025-26 school year. They’re based on the average of how much the state spends per student in public schools.
- Families in Tier 1 can get up to $7,686 per student. For a family of four, it’s an income of up to $59,478.
- Families in Tier 2 can get up to $6,918 per student. For a family of four, it’s an income of up to $118,956.
- Families in Tier 3 can get up to $4,612 per student. For a family of four, it’s an income of up to $267,651.
- Families in Tier 4 can get up to $3,458 per student. For a family of four, it’s an income of more than $267,651.
Award notifications will go out in April.
Is voucher expansion a good idea?
School choice advocates have praised the program as giving families more control over their children’s educational future.
But critics say voucher expansion is taking away money that could go toward serving students in public schools. The State Board of Education voted last week to ask state lawmakers to put a moratorium on expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program.
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "The number of NC private school vouchers has doubled. Here’s how to apply for one.."
