Noble was co-founded in 1999[2] by Michael Milkie and Tonya Hernandez through a partnership between Ron Manderschied, President of Northwestern University Settlement House.

[8] In 2014 Black and Hispanic students in Noble schools ranked in the top 30 percent in reading, math and science.

[12] The Noble-Relay Teaching Residency, run in partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education, launched in the summer of 2014, provides a one-year pathway into a career as a teacher in an urban setting for Noble alumni and interested community members.

[14][15] Noble uses college counseling tools and software to match students with the highest graduation rate schools.

[20] In April 2018, Noble Network of Charter Schools faced criticism for alleged disconnect from its student population and "dehumanizing" policies.

[21][22][23] Students claim that "policies [are] so strict that some girls are bleeding through their pants for lack of permitted bathroom breaks.

[31] The president of the Noble Network, in an email to staff, stated parts of the article were “exaggerated or plainly false.

[31] It has also been claimed that "Noble officials have privately suggested that teachers are publicizing discipline stories as a way to promote their unionization efforts.