What RISE Education does

RISE Education (瑞思学科英语) is a Beijing-based private education company founded in 2007 that delivers an American K-12 English language curriculum to Chinese students aged three to 18, originally built in partnership with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Group (HMHG). Its core product, the 'Subject English' program, combines a structured U.S. K-12 curriculum with interactive multimedia delivered both inside self-owned learning centers and through digital channels, organized into five age-differentiated stages that develop language, subject knowledge, cooperation, communication, thinking, and management skills. The portfolio has expanded to include 'RISE up' (an online American middle school curriculum launched 2016-2017) and 'RISE Online Group Class' (a digital group-class product launched March 2020), alongside content partnerships with DreamWorks (Kung Fu Panda licensing) and U.S. K-12 schools (Crosspoint Warriors Academy, Saint Raphael Academy, The Prout School, Cotter Schools). Revenue is generated B2C through self-owned learning centers and digital channels targeting Chinese families; the company is privately held following a prior NASDAQ listing (REDU), received strategic investment from Bain Capital, and employs 5,001-10,000 people. In February 2022 the company acquired Dada Auto, signaling a strategic pivot beyond the core K-12 English education business, and a 2020 C-suite overhaul brought in a CEO with Bain Capital Asia private equity background along with operations and finance leaders from internet and consumer technology firms.

Name

RISE Education

Legal name

RISE Education (瑞思学科英语)

Website

https://en.risecenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

RISE Education is a Beijing-based private education company founded in 2007 that delivers an American K-12 English curriculum to Chinese students aged 3-18 through self-owned learning centers and digital channels, following a prior NASDAQ listing and a 2022 pivot via the Dada Auto acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's English Language Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy Foundations (Phonics, Reading Fluency, Comprehension) Platforms (EDAFAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & ELA Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAF), Enrichment-Focused Before/After Care (Arts, STEM, Language) (EDACAHAI)

Keywords

• Children's English education
• After-school tutoring
• K-12 English curriculum
• Subject-based learning
• Language learning centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

RISE Education provides after-school English language learning and tutoring programs for children aged three to 18, built on an American K-12 curriculum developed in partnership with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Group (HMHG). Instruction is delivered through self-owned learning centers across China and through online channels, covering subject knowledge, personal development, and social development skills via immersive English instruction.

Product overview

RISE Education operates as a unified educational platform built around its core 'Subject English' program—an American K-12 curriculum delivered through interactive multimedia to students aged 3 and above. The portfolio includes digital extensions (RISE Online Group Class), online middle school curricula (RISE up), and five age-differentiated stage-based programs. The company also publishes educational materials and operates an annual student competition. The offering integrates classroom instruction with digital resources and follows the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Group educational framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RISE Subject English RISE's flagship American K-12 curriculum-based English language learning program for children aged three and above, developed in partnership with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Group. Provides interactive multimedia instruction covering knowledge, personal development, and social development through immersive English learning at self-owned learning centers across China.
• RISE Online Group Class Digital product enabling students to attend group English classes online, representing RISE's expansion into online/digital learning modalities.
• RISE up Online Curricula Program Global advanced American middle school online curricula program designed for middle school students, providing online access to American educational content.
• Stage-Based Programs (Stage 1-5) Age-differentiated educational programs serving students from age three and beyond, with each stage focusing on age-appropriate language skills, subject knowledge, cooperation skills, communication skills, thinking skills, and management skills.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Group (HMHG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISE was established in 2007 based on HMHG's professional experience and outstanding products. HMHG is an international education giant that provided the foundational curriculum and educational expertise for RISE's Subject English model in China.
• WildAidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn January 2017, RISE partnered with WildAid to promote the rescuing of wild animals around the world. RISE's annual event 'RISE Star' featured dramatic performances with the theme 'When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too.'
• Crosspoint Warriors AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrosspoint Academy was built in 1974 in Bremerton, WA. It offers a well-rounded curriculum including challenging academics, athletics, music, arts, and Christian values, providing comprehensive elementary and secondary education from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Saint Raphael AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Raphael Academy is a Roman Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory school in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. It offers a rich and robust college-prep AP curriculum and is the only Catholic co-educational school in Rhode Island to offer the Rhode Island College Early Admissions Program.
• The Prout SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Prout School is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory high school located in Wakefield, Rhode Island. It is a member of NEASC and an International Baccalaureate school, being the only International Baccalaureate high school in Rhode Island.
• Cotter SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCotter Schools, located in Winona, Minnesota, USA, is an international learning community guided by faith since 1911. They serve motivated and engaged students in grades 7 through 12 and are accredited through AdvancEd.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TAL Education Group (Xueersi / 好未来): One of China's largest K-12 after-school tutoring companies, offering academic enrichment including English for children and adolescents. Directly competes with RISE in the same Chinese K-12 after-school tutoring market and has been similarly impacted by the Double Reduction policy.
• New Oriental Education & Technology Group (新东方): China's largest private education company, providing K-12 tutoring, test prep, and English-language training through physical centers and online platforms. Directly competes with RISE in children's English language education and adult/learner English instruction.
• Wall Street English: International adult and young-learner English-language school chain with significant China presence. Directly comparable to RISE in the immersive, center-based English language learning model.
• iHuman Inc. Provides educational content and apps for Chinese children ages 3-8 focused on literacy, math, and English. Highly comparable to RISE in age segment (early childhood), subject focus (English literacy), and digital-native delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global English-language learning giant operating language schools and online programs. Comparable to RISE in English-language curriculum focus and immersive teaching methodology, though EF operates globally rather than China-centric.
• Pearson plc: Global education company offering English-language learning (Pearson English) and K-12 curriculum. Comparable to RISE in English-language curriculum design and instructional content, operating at much larger global scale.

Emerging players

• VIPKid: China-based online English-learning platform connecting Chinese students with North American teachers. Competes with RISE for the same online English-learning demand from Chinese families, particularly in the post-Double Reduction online pivot.
• 51Talk (China Online Education Group): Online English-language tutoring platform serving Chinese learners with foreign teachers. Directly competes with RISE's online group class product and digital curriculum offerings.
• Disney English: Disney-branded immersive English learning centers for Chinese children (now largely exited the market). Historically a direct competitor to RISE in the premium children's English center category in China.

Others

• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMHG): Major US-based K-12 educational publisher and RISE's foundational curriculum partner. Adjacent rather than directly competing—HMHG supplies the content backbone that differentiates RISE's Subject English model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about RISE Education