Report says most NC voucher schools use selective admissions

Public Schools First NC released an updated report on North Carolina private schools that receive Opportunity Scholarship funds, finding that 80% of 703 voucher-accepting schools showed signs of selective admissions. The report adds scrutiny to a program that has received more than $1.6 billion since 2014 and operates with far less oversight than public schools.

Why it matters: - North Carolina has spent more than $1.6 billion on Opportunity Scholarship vouchers since the program started in 2014. - The report raises questions about whether taxpayer-funded private schools can exclude students while still receiving public money. - Public Schools First NC says the findings highlight a gap in accountability between voucher schools and public schools.

What happened: - Public Schools First NC released an updated report, NC School Vouchers, on Sept. 29, 2026. - The report reviews admissions policies at North Carolina private schools that receive Opportunity Scholarship funds. - PSFNC also launched an online searchable database tied to the report.

The details: - PSFNC reviewed the admissions policies of all 703 voucher-accepting private schools that received taxpayer funds through the Opportunity Scholarship program during the 2025-26 school year. - The group found that 80% of those schools showed some evidence of selective admissions practices. - Some schools excluded applicants based on religion, academic performance, disability status, or whether a student or family member is LGBTQ+. - Some schools require students and families to sign a “lifestyle policy” covering the activities and behavior of family members and associates. - Schools can reject applicants or expel students who do not meet those requirements. - The database lists all 703 schools, their voucher funding, selective admissions policies where found, and links to the policies. - Public Schools First NC describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on North Carolina K-12 education.

Between the lines: - The report suggests voucher dollars are flowing to schools that can set entrance rules many public schools cannot use. - The findings add fuel to a long-running debate over whether state money should support schools with limited transparency and selective enrollment. - The comparison to public schools is central to PSFNC’s argument: public schools face detailed spending, transparency, testing and governance rules.

What's next: - The searchable database may give families, advocates and lawmakers a new tool to review admissions policies school by school. - The report is likely to intensify scrutiny of the Opportunity Scholarship program and its oversight rules. - PSFNC says the database is an important step in showing where taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers are going.

The bottom line: - The new report says most North Carolina voucher-funded private schools use some form of selective admissions, deepening concerns about public dollars supporting schools that can screen students.