The Framingham Community Charter School opened in September of 2002, the first charter middle school serving the Metrowest area. Three years later, the school was renamed to honor teacher and astronaut Christa McAuliffe, a native of Framingham and a graduate of Framingham State.

Located in downtown Framingham, McAuliffe Regional Charter  is a public middle shool for students in grades 6-7-8, free of charge to students who live in Framingham, Ashland, Natick, Holliston, Hopkinton, Marlboro, Sudbury and Southborough.

About 25 percent of the students are minority students. For one in every 100 students, English is not their first language.

McAuliffe Regional Charter is one of 11 schools in Massachusetts that teaches through the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound model, "involving long-term in-depth explorations, a focus on self discovery and individuality and exciting mental and physical adventures."

Admission is through a lottery, typically held in the spring. There is an active Parent Teacher Group.