PFNC Releases Report on Admissions Policies at NC Private Schools

New report shows that the majority of voucher funding goes to private schools that use selective admissions policies.

RALEIGH, NC, UNITED STATES, September 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Public Schools First NC just released their updated report, NC School Vouchers. The report is a detailed look at admissions policies of the private schools in North Carolina that receive taxpayer funds through the Opportunity Scholarship voucher program.

North Carolina’s lawmakers have spent more than $1.6 billion on Opportunity Scholarship vouchers since the program’s launch in 2014, but state law requires little accountability for how the funds are spent, whether the schools provide adequate instructional programs, or whether they refuse admission to groups of students based on student or family characteristics.

This lack of accountability contrasts with public schools, which follow detailed regulations for spending and transparency, including participating in the state testing program and electing school boards from among community members.

PSFNC’s new report is an update to previous reports detailing the types of admissions policies used by North Carolina’s private schools to admit or exclude students. These policies are used regardless of whether or not the student is paying tuition with a taxpayer-funded voucher.

The policies described in the report range from exclusions based on the religious beliefs of students and family members, to academic performance, disability status, and whether an applicant or family member is part of the LGBTQ+ community. Some schools also require students and families to sign a “lifestyle policy” that extends to activities and behaviors of family members and associates. Not meeting the requirements may result in a rejected application or the student being expelled from the school.

PSFNC researched the admissions policies of all 703 voucher-accepting private schools that received taxpayer funds through the OS voucher program during the 2025-26 school year and found that 80% showed some evidence of selective practices. Many excluded students using several different characteristics (e.g., religion and disability).

As a supplement to the report, PSFNC created an online searchable database that lists all 703 schools, their voucher funding, selective admissions policies (where found) and a link to the policy. This database is an important step in providing insight into the schools receiving taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers.

Public Schools First NC (1) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accurate information about North Carolina’s K-12 education landscape.

1. Public Schools First NC: https://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/

Heather Koons
Public Schools First NC
info@publicschoolsfirstnc.org
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