North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics

Name

North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics

Legal name

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Website

https://ncssm.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual) (EDAJADAF)

Keywords

• STEM secondary education
• Residential high school
• Honors virtual program
• Summer academic programs
• Distance learning courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding: As a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System, NCSSM receives state funding to provide free tuition, room, and board for residential students and free tuition for online students.
2. Summer Program Tuition: Revenue from tuition-based summer programs including Summer Accelerator and Early Accelerator. Programs range from free (INSPIRE, Summer Ventures, Teamship) to fee-based ($350-$1,925 depending on program type and format).
3. Donations and Fundraising: Ignite + Transform comprehensive campaign supports educational excellence. Donations through NCSSM Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NCSSM delivers STEM-focused secondary education through three program lines: a tuition-free two-year Residential Program for 11th- and 12th-grade North Carolina students at the Durham and Morganton campuses; a free supplemental NCSSM Online honors program with evening webinars and asynchronous assignments for students remaining at their local schools; and NCSSM Connect distance-education courses delivered via videoconference to partner North Carolina high schools. Revenue-generating offerings include fee-based Summer programs (Summer Accelerator, Early Accelerator, INSPIRE, Step Up to STEM, Summer Ventures, NC Teamship Showcase) serving rising 5th- through 12th-graders.

Product overview

NCSSM is a public educational institution offering a unified portfolio of STEM-focused educational programs rather than a commercial product platform. The core offerings consist of: (1) the Residential Program - a two-year tuition-free public high school for 11th-12th graders at Durham and Morganton campuses; (2) NCSSM Online - a virtual two-year honors program for students remaining at local schools; (3) NCSSM Connect - videoconference-based courses delivered at partner schools; and (4) Summer Programs including Summer Accelerator, Early Accelerator, INSPIRE, Step Up to STEM, Summer Ventures, and NC Teamship Showcase for students from rising 5th grade through 12th grade. These programs are educational services, not software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Program Two-year public, tuition-free residential high school program for 11th- and 12th-grade North Carolina students interested in STEM, offered at the Durham campus (680 students) and the Morganton campus (300 students). Includes rigorous math, science, and humanities courses, UNC System Guaranteed Admission eligibility, and college-credit agreements.
• NCSSM Online Supplemental, sequenced two-year honors program delivered virtually through evening webinars and asynchronous assignments to NC students who remain enrolled at their local high schools. Tuition-free; certificate of completion with dual-enrollment credit options.
• NCSSM Connect Semester-long distance education courses delivered virtually via videoconference during the school day at NC partner high schools. Tuition-free honors-level and AP courses in STEM and humanities, expanding course catalogs at schools that lack local staffing for advanced offerings.
• Summer Accelerator Tuition-based STEM summer courses for rising 7th- through 12th-graders from anywhere in the world. Offered as residential programs at Durham and Morganton and as virtual courses during June-July. Tuition ranges $495–$1,925 depending on residential vs. virtual format and program length.
• Early Accelerator Day-program summer academic program for rising 5th- and 6th-graders featuring hands-on, interactive STEM activities. Non-residential, held on the Durham and Morganton campuses at a cost of $350.
• INSPIRE Program Free one-week residential summer program for rising 11th- and 12th-graders living in NC, designed for students from underrepresented groups in STEM. Pairs students with mentors for STEM research and real-world problem-solving at NCSSM-Morganton.
• Step Up to STEM Innovative interdisciplinary residential program challenging rising 9th- and 10th-graders across North Carolina through real-world subjects to build skills in science, math, technology, and communications. Held at NCSSM-Durham, ECSU, and UNC Pembroke.
• Summer Ventures Free, state-funded four-week residential program for academically talented NC students aspiring to STEM careers. Participants engage in research with faculty and gain hands-on experience at UNC System universities.
• NC Teamship Showcase Showcase event for students who completed local Teamship experiences at schools or organizations; an 8-day residential program at NCSSM-Durham (including 2 virtual days), offered at no cost plus a small stipend.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 public high school in America for 2026

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of North Carolina SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSSM is a constituent institution of the UNC System. Students receive UNC System Guaranteed Admission and access to UNC System Tuition Grant. Programs hosted at various UNC System universities.
• Duke University (Durham)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSSM-Durham campus is located within walking distance of Duke University. Students benefit from proximity to a major research university.
• NCSSM Connect Partner SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of North Carolina high schools that partner with NCSSM to offer virtual distance education courses via videoconference during the school day. Expands curriculum offerings at partner schools.
• Elizabeth City State University (ECSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStep Up to STEM residential program hosted at ECSU location alongside Durham and UNC Pembroke campuses.
• UNC PembrokeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStep Up to STEM residential program hosted at UNC Pembroke alongside Durham and ECSU campuses.
• NC Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) in HickoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer Accelerator off-site location at NCCET in Hickory, NC for engineering-focused programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS): TAMS at the University of North Texas is a public residential STEM-focused early college program for high-school-aged students, directly comparable in mission and structure to NCSSM. Both programs provide tuition-free accelerated STEM education to in-state students.
• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA): IMSA is a state-funded public residential STEM school for grades 10-12 in Aurora, Illinois. It is one of the most well-known comparables to NCSSM, with a similar residential model, tuition-free in-state admissions, and a national reputation for STEM excellence.
• Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS): ASMS is a public residential STEM high school for Alabama juniors and seniors, closely mirroring NCSSM's two-year residential model and tuition-free in-state admissions. Both institutions recruit top-tier in-state STEM talent.
• South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM): GSSM is a public residential STEM high school for South Carolina juniors and seniors located in Hartsville, SC. It shares NCSSM's residential, tuition-free, state-funded model and STEM curriculum focus.
• Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities: The Indiana Academy is a public residential STEM-focused high school for Indiana juniors and seniors, hosted at Ball State University. It is a direct peer to NCSSM in residential model, tuition structure, and state-funded STEM mission.
• Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM): OSSM is a public residential STEM high school for Oklahoma juniors and seniors. It mirrors NCSSM's two-year residential structure, free in-state tuition, and STEM enrichment mission.
• Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA): LSMSA is a public residential high school for Louisiana juniors and seniors with a STEM focus, located in Natchitoches, LA. It is directly comparable to NCSSM as a state-funded residential STEM institution.
• Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS): MSMS is a public residential STEM high school for Mississippi juniors and seniors, hosted on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. It shares NCSSM's residential model, tuition-free structure, and state-funded STEM mission.
• Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program / Governor's School for the Arts: Kentucky's Governor's Scholars Program is a state-funded residential summer enrichment program for academically talented Kentucky high schoolers, structurally similar to NCSSM's Summer Ventures program and aligned with the residential enrichment tradition NCSSM represents.

Emerging players

• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ): TJ is a Virginia public magnet STEM high school consistently ranked among the top STEM schools nationally. While not residential and not state-wide in the same way as NCSSM, it is a comparable elite public STEM high school competing for the same talent-recognition narrative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NCSSMDistanceEd
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCSSM
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncscienceandmath
• Xx.com/NCSSM

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics