Charlotte-area school funding, every source in one place
10 programs and aid sources for families in Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus and Gaston, from the state voucher to free pre-K, with who qualifies and the dates ahead.
Last verified: October 2026
NC Opportunity Scholarship
North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship (OS), the state's private school voucher, pays up to $7,942 a year toward tuition and required fees at a Direct Payment School for 2026-27. The amount depends on household income, and Tier 4 has no income cap at all.
Details & eligibility →Disability ESA · $9,000-$17,000ESA+ (Education Student Accounts)
ESA+, North Carolina's education savings account for K-12 students with a disability, loads $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for five listed disabilities. Families spend it on private school tuition, therapy, tutoring, curriculum and technology through ClassWallet.
Details & eligibility →Free · Every Mecklenburg 4-year-oldMECK Pre-K (Mecklenburg County)
MECK Pre-K is Mecklenburg County's free pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds, taught by licensed teachers in licensed child development centers. Smart Start of Mecklenburg County runs enrollment and the county pays for it.
Details & eligibility →Free · Income-basedNC Pre-K (North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten)
NC Pre-K, the state's pre-kindergarten program and the successor to More at Four, serves 4-year-olds from families at or below 75% of state median income in 4- and 5-star classrooms. It runs in public schools, Head Start and private child care centers.
Details & eligibility →Income-based · Working familiesNC Child Care Subsidy
North Carolina's Subsidized Child Care Assistance helps working or studying parents pay a participating provider for infant, toddler, preschool and school-age care. In Mecklenburg, DSS contracts with Child Care Resources Inc.
Details & eligibility →New · North Carolina opted inFederal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
North Carolina joined the new federal scholarship tax credit in spring 2026 after lawmakers overrode Gov. Josh Stein's veto of House Bill 87. From 2027, donors can claim a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to $1,700 for gifts to scholarship granting organizations.
Details & eligibility →Catholic schoolsCatholic School Aid (MACS & Diocese of Charlotte)
Charlotte's nine Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) and St. Michael in Gastonia belong to the Diocese of Charlotte. Families typically combine an Opportunity Scholarship with the participating-Catholic rate, sibling discounts and need-based Family Individualized Tuition.
Details & eligibility →Tuition-free college creditCareer & College Promise (Dual Enrollment)
Career & College Promise (CCP), North Carolina's tuition-free dual enrollment program, lets qualified high school students take community college courses. Central Piedmont says students from public, private, charter or home schools can take part.
Details & eligibility →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Need-based aid, sibling and church-member discounts and payment plans offered by the school itself. In the Charlotte region this is usually the layer that closes the gap between a tier award and the tuition bill.
Details & eligibility →Partner fundEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
A private fund for families at participating church and community schools, meant to cover part of what is left after state awards. Terms are confirmed during your funding check.
Details & eligibility →Opportunity Scholarship tier calculator
Household size and income in, 2026-27 tier and maximum award out.
Find my tier →What the scholarship covers and doesn't
Required fees vs optional costs, with five illustrative Charlotte budgets.
See the examples →Dates on the calendar
- Oct 1, 2026Fall semester cutoff: an Opportunity Scholarship or ESA+ student must be enrolled and attending a Direct Payment School, with residency documents accepted, for fall funds to flow.
- Dec 2026NCSEAA lets families set up MyPortal accounts ahead of the 2027-28 application cycle. Do it early; only one parent of record can hold the account.
- Jan 1, 2027The federal scholarship tax credit year opens. North Carolina joined after the General Assembly overrode the governor's veto of HB 87 in spring 2026.
- Jan - Mar 31, 2027Diocese of Charlotte schools take Family Individualized Tuition (FIT) need-based aid applications through FACTS for 2027-28.
- By Feb 1, 2027State law requires NCSEAA to open 2027-28 Opportunity Scholarship applications by this date. The 2026-27 priority window ran Feb 2 to Mar 2, 2026.
- Mar 1, 2027Applications in by this date get priority treatment for 2027-28 under both statutes; ESA+ spring residency documents are also due.
- Mid-June 2027ClassWallet closes for 2026-27 ESA+ purchases around the third week of June; summer services can be prepaid through August 31.
Voucher vs savings account vs tax credit
| Type | North Carolina version |
|---|---|
| Voucher (school receives the money) | Opportunity Scholarship |
| Education savings account (family directs spending) | ESA+ for students with disabilities |
| Tax-credit scholarship (donors fund SGOs) | Federal scholarship tax credit, starting 2027 |
See which programs fit your child
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