Rising Tide Charter Public School

What Rising Tide Charter Public School does

Rising Tide Charter Public School is a tuition-free, college-preparatory regional public charter school founded in 1998 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, serving students in grades 5-12 drawn from 20 South Shore and Cape Cod towns. It operates a single campus at 59 Armstrong Road with a stated total enrollment capacity of approximately 539 students, staffed by 51-100 employees, and reports class sizes averaging 10-12 students. The school's core product is a college-preparatory academic curriculum complemented by differentiated programs including a dual enrollment partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (allowing students to earn college credits in-house), a mandatory Senior Internship Course with regional employers, an Aviation Maintenance Technology Pathways Program delivered through Cape Cod Community College at Plymouth Airport, Summer Enrichment Courses, the Jill S. Crafts Summer Scholars Program, a Visual Arts Program, and athletics, arts, clubs, and international travel (via WorldStrides). Technology infrastructure is a Google-based digital learning platform supporting hybrid/in-person instruction, with no proprietary AI/ML systems. The business model is public charter school funding: revenue is generated through state and federal per-pupil allocations rather than tuition, supplemented by modest fee-based programs ($225/session summer enrichment; $100-$125 SNHU dual enrollment courses) and grants such as the $38,791 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in July 2023. Distribution is via annual open enrollment with lottery-based admissions when oversubscribed, supported by free regional bus transportation across 20 towns. Rising Tide has been designated a 2025 DESE School of Recognition ranking in the 91st percentile statewide, and is currently undergoing a leadership transition with Zahra Williams appointed as the third Head of School effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Michael O'Keefe.

Name

Rising Tide Charter Public School

Legal name

Rising Tide Charter Public School

Website

https://risingtide.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rising Tide is a tuition-free public charter school founded in 1998 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, serving grades 5-12 from 20 South Shore and Cape Cod towns with a college-preparatory curriculum, dual enrollment, senior internships, and CTE pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• College preparatory education
• K-12 public education
• Dual enrollment programs
• Secondary school services

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding: As a Massachusetts public charter school, Rising Tide receives per-pupil funding from state and federal sources based on enrollment. The school is tuition-free to students and families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rising Tide Charter Public School delivers tuition-free, college-preparatory education for grades 5-12 to Massachusetts residents in the South Shore and Cape Cod region. Its core offering combines a standards-aligned academic curriculum with differentiated programming such as dual enrollment through Southern New Hampshire University, a mandatory senior internship course, an FAA Aviation Maintenance Technology pathways partnership, summer enrichment, and the visual arts, supported by a digital and hybrid learning environment.

Product overview

Rising Tide Charter Public School is a college preparatory regional public charter school serving grades 5-12 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The school operates as a single unified educational institution offering a comprehensive academic program complemented by specialized programs including a Dual Enrollment partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (allowing students to earn college credits), a mandatory Senior Internship Course with local business partnerships, Summer Enrichment Courses and the Jill S. Crafts Summer Scholars Program, an Aviation Maintenance Technology Pathways Program through Cape Cod Community College, and a robust Visual Arts Program. The school also offers athletics, arts (music, theater, dance), international travel programs, and maintains a focus on community connection and student belonging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College Preparatory Education (Grades 5-12) A college preparatory regional public charter school serving grades 5-12, offering a comprehensive academic curriculum with emphasis on cultivating curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in an environment promoting belonging. Tuition-free for all Massachusetts residents.
• Dual Enrollment Program with Southern New Hampshire University A partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) allowing upper school students to earn official college credits while taking regular classes at Rising Tide, with courses taught by select Rising Tide teachers who become SNHU adjunct professors. Courses cost $100 for three-credit courses and $125 for classes with labs.
• Senior Internship Course A mandatory skills-based learning program where seniors participate in academic internships with businesses and organizations in the greater South Shore and Cape Cod areas in fields they are interested in, providing career exposure and real-world experience.
• Summer Enrichment Courses Experience-based learning courses offered during two weeks in July for upper and middle school students, including Hispanic Arts and Crafts, Painting Studio, Photography, Woodworking, Broadway Dance Review, and other creative programs. Sessions cost $225 each.
• Jill S. Crafts Summer Scholars Program A two-week summer program for middle school students (grades 6-9) focused on environmental education and community engagement, working with the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Association to learn about local ecosystems and preservation, conduct bioblitz surveys, and create citizen science projects.
• Aviation Maintenance Technology Pathways Program A partnership with Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) allowing juniors and seniors to complete the first level of FAA certification while in high school, with classes held at 4Cs' AMT Hangar at Plymouth Airport and credit earned toward an AAS degree.
• Visual Art Program Comprehensive visual arts education including Visual Art Foundation (drawing for ninth-graders), drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and portfolio workshop for college admissions preparation, serving grades 9-12 at Rising Tide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91st percentile ranking - Rising Tide's students outpaced peers across the state in every grade level and subject area tested; in 5 of 14 grades/subjects, students were over 20% higher than state average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cape Cod Community College (4Cs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2023Aviation Maintenance Technology Pathways Program - Rising Tide students can participate in FAA certification program. Classes held at 4Cs' AMT Hangar at Plymouth Airport. Juniors and seniors attend monthly labs, can complete first level of FAA certification while in high school while earning credit toward an AAS degree.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Dual enrollment program partnership allowing upper school students to earn official college credits while taking regular classes at Rising Tide. Students pay $100 for three-credit courses or $125 for classes with labs. Rising Tide teachers who hold master's degrees become adjunct professors of SNHU after completing training and syllabus approval.
• Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Association (SMPBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Jill S. Crafts Summer Scholars Program. Students work at SMPBA headquarters at Center Hill Preserve, learning about the rare Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens ecoregion, conducting bioblitz surveys, and creating citizen science projects.
• Mass Cultural CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant funding provided to support cultural enrichment programs including visits from West African drummers and dancers (Issa Coulibaly and artists) who taught students about drumming, culture, and history.
• WorldStridesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour company partner for international student trips. Rising Tide has strong relationship with WorldStrides for student travel programs including trips to Italy and France over April vacation.
• PAC-TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal public access television collaboration to create public service announcements about Rising Tide. Students and school representatives featured in videos.
• Rising Tide Senior Internship PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRising Tide seniors participate in the Senior Internship Course providing academic, skills-based learning through unpaid internships with local businesses and organizations. Partners include: Alpha-One Flight Services, Bay State Physical Therapy, Crosswinds Golf Club, Representative Keating's Plymouth Office, Long Pond Physical Therapy, Planet Subaru, Plymouth Antiquarian Society, Rising Tide Athletics, SHP Financial, Sprezzatura Boutique, Starboard Academy, and Sustainable Plymouth.
• Plymouth Youth Development Collaborative (PYDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity coalition working to prevent and reduce substance abuse. Hosts Rising Tide senior interns who create campaigns and projects for students and the Plymouth community, including the 'What's Your Reason?' substance abuse prevention campaign.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City on a Hill Charter Public School: Massachusetts college-preparatory public charter high school operating multiple campuses in Boston and New Bedford. Direct comparable: regional/urban college-prep charter serving similar grade ranges in Massachusetts with public lottery admissions.
• Boston Preparatory Charter Public School: College-preparatory charter public school in Hyde Park, MA serving grades K–12. Direct comparable: tuition-free, lottery-admission MA charter with a college-prep mission and comparable per-pupil funding model.
• MATCH Charter Public School: Boston-based public charter school with high school and teacher residency programs. Direct comparable: MA college-prep charter serving similar grade spans and operating under the same DESE charter funding regime as Rising Tide.
• Codman Academy Charter Public School: Small Boston-based charter public school with a college-preparatory mission and extended-day model. Direct comparable: tuition-free, lottery-admission, small-size MA charter high school serving college-bound students.
• Salem Academy Charter School: College-preparatory charter public school serving grades 6–12 in Salem, MA. Direct comparable: regional MA charter with college-prep emphasis, lottery admissions, and free public funding.

Regional players

• Excel Academy Charter Schools: Massachusetts charter school network operating multiple campuses in East Boston, Chelsea, and East Boston/Hyde Park. Comparable: operates under the same MA charter per-pupil funding system but as a multi-site network rather than a single campus.
• Brooke Charter Schools: Boston-based charter public school network with multiple campuses serving K–12. Comparable: tuition-free MA charter operating under DESE oversight with college-prep orientation, but networked rather than single-site like Rising Tide.
• KIPP Academy Boston: KIPP Massachusetts public charter schools serving Lynn and Boston. Comparable: same MA charter funding regime and college-prep mission; differs in operating as part of a national KIPP network rather than an independent regional charter.

Emerging players

• BASIS Charter Schools: Nationally recognized college-prep charter network with campuses in multiple states. Comparable: college-prep focus and reputation for top-quartile academic outcomes; differs as a larger, multi-state network rather than a single MA regional charter.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large NYC-based charter school network with strong academic outcomes and selective admissions. Comparable: lottery-based admissions, public funding model, and aggressive performance orientation, though operates in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/risingtidecharterpublic
• Instagraminstagram.com/RisingTideCharterPublicSchool
• Xx.com/RisingTideCPS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rising-tide-charter-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Rising Tide Charter Public School