For a list and some information about open houses try:
http://www.mdcharternetwork.org/

Calling MSCN might get you some more individualized guidance.

There are many good options. Let BCPSS know that information should be easier to find.

I visited lots of schools and found I liked most of them very much- I would encourage her to visit-most are very open to this! Also, the Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance (dbfam.org) has some school descriptions in their resource guide- there are only a few school descriptions (with more coming) but those that are there are very thorough.

I would highly recommend City Neighbors Hamilton, especially for Kindergarten. It is a new school, just opened Sept 2009, but has already garnered huge praise from all of the Kindergarten families. For the record, I am the President of the Board, and I guess that makes me biased, but in this case that's a good thing, I think. The best part about City Neighbors is the way parents are rolled into the fabric of the school, essential to it's operation and success. If we didn't love it, I wouldn't send my kids there or recommend it! Definitely visit the school and see what you think - you get a lot from those informal drop-ins!

My husband and I love The Crossroads School where our children attend. The principal and his staff are "AWESOME"! There's no other word that describes them. They show tremendous interest in providing well structure in the education of all the children who attend their. The curriculum their is like no other we have seen, esp. in Baltimore City. The children who attend their are from different cultures, which my husband and I believe will enhance them intellectually now so that when they become adults, they will be able to work effectively, as well as, efficiently with people who are different. We the parents give them 100% support. Any child who is fortunate to attend Crossroads is "TRULY BLESSED"! We are a family here. Don't take our word for it. See for yourself.

I have a current kindergarten student - after an initial plan to send him to private school, a bit of charter school research led us to submitting applications at the following:

Midtown Academy
Baltimore Montessori
Patterson Park Public Charter School
City Neighbors

With two acceptances via lottery, we choose Patterson Park (primarily due to location) and have been VERY happy with our school.

I definitely recommend a visit to your top two choices - PPPCS accomodated us after acceptance outside regular open house hours with a tour from the principal.

In some ways, this Q is moot, if your intent is for a spot in a Kindergarten class. The lottery for applications to all charter schools is being held today. Could be wrong, but I am not sure if any charter school will have a kindergarden spot after today.

Lets hear it for the GIRLS!!!!!The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women is AWESOME!!! My daughter has become a new student that has discovered a love for Latin!!We love the principal!!She is young, energetic and passionate about all of the girls.....My husband and I really fell in love when we went to the Student Led COnfrences...the entire staff is A+. Can't wait move in our new home!! I f you want the best for your daughter....i cant recommend BLSYW enough !!!

To anyone thinking of a Charter school, I have the following advice:
Don't just settle for a school tour, ask to sit in a classroom, look at the work they a doing, look at how they teach, the good and bad thing about charter schools is that they have autonomy in lots of thngs, it may or may not be a good fit for your child.
Please don't just go by MSA test results, also be careful about their grading system, I know at my daughter's school they just have below grade level, on grade level, and above grade level.
I think that the great thing is that the teachers choose to be there, but try talking to parents at before and after school, this is how you can get a true picture of the school. Another good idea is to ask if your child can come and participate in the class for a day, see how he/she feels about their way of teaching. If a school doesn't let you observe other than what they have arranged, it should raise a red flag.
I know that the lottery has already taken place but this is something anyone thinking of a charter school should do.

Empowerment Academy in West Baltimore is a public charter school that operates like a private school. Once you are inside the building you can feel the accelerated learning and passion of the administration and teachers. My son is now in the 1st grade and is reading on a 3rd grade level. Everyone cares from the Principal to the janitor...EVERYONE WANTS YOUR CHILD TO DO WELL AT THAT SCHOOL! Resource classes are art, theater, music, dance, gym, and computers. The library teacher has the children completing reading projects starting in Pre-K such as dioramas, 3D displays, life-sized storybook characters. The standards and the expectations in the school are extremely high! But they prepare the students and give them the tools they need to meet those standards and expectations. Parents are also required to volunteer 50 hours per year. I highly recommend Empowerment Academy to anyone who is interested in a loving, safe, well thought out, caring, and thriving environment for their child. You also have to be willing to give as much of yourself if not more than the the staff and teachers at the school.

My son is in Kindergarten at Baltimore International Academy, a city charter school in Northeast Baltimore, located on the campus of the MD School for the Blind. I'm very happy with it...it has an international focus and teaches through foreign language immersion--parents can choose for their child to learn in Spanish, French, Chinese, or Russian. My son does Spanish and the kindergarten teacher is great! Most charters have had their lotteries already, but it's worth it to put in an application for the waiting list. I received admissions offers from several city charter schools from being on the waiting list.

I used to work as an admin. at a charter and I recognize the many reasons why they appeal to folks. However, don't write off all traditional schools. There are many great charters but there are many bad ones. There are lots of traditional public schools that are outperforming their charter sisters. If you live in NE Balt. you are always free to visit us at Hamilton E/M School. We offer a fairly unique and very successful program for students in PreK to 8.

A school is only as good as the people who at there everyday, running it. CROSSROADS is top-notch b/c the teachers and administrators are competent, concerned, and accessible.

We may be forgetting one thing in the catolic scool closing issue. I believe that the taxpayer ponies up$12,000 plus for every student, so every student enrolled in a private school saves us (taxpayers a bundle of money). It would be in our interest to allow at least a partial tax allowance to the parents of these students as a matter of simple mathematics (if they still teach that) in these times with the state pressed so hard for income. In the past the teachers union has opposed this in their own interest not the taxpayers or students interest.
I would like to state that I am not catholic in fact very secular. I am just sick of high taxes and looking at this as a good sense solution.

@Don Hempel

You're not entirely accurate. While some funding for City Schools comes from Baltimore taxpayers, much of it also comes from around the state of Maryland, which funds school districts based on the number of students in the district (as well as other factors like the number of students receiving special education services). So while there would be more students in the district, the district would also be receiving more money from outside sources, although I can't say for sure that the cost would be completely offset (just like I can't say for sure if it wouldn't).