XQ Institute
XQ Institute is a nonprofit founded in 2015 by Laurene Powell Jobs that partners with U.S. high schools, districts, and state education agencies to reimagine high school through free, research-backed design principles, competency frameworks, curricula, and assessment tools serving roughly 40,000 students across 150+ sites.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What XQ Institute does
XQ Institute is a California-registered nonprofit founded in 2015 by Laurene Powell Jobs (founder/president of Emerson Collective) and Russlynn Ali (former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights). Operating as an independent affiliate of Emerson Collective, XQ partners directly with public schools, districts, and state education departments to redesign American high schools through a portfolio of free research-backed tools and frameworks. Its core intellectual property centers on six XQ Design Principles, five XQ Learner Outcomes, a 37-competency XQ Competency Framework, and an XQ Competency Navigator digital platform, complemented by project-based curriculum (XQ Math Algebra I), mastery-based assessment (XQ Math Badging with 23 badges), the Educational Outcomes Audit & Analysis (EOAA) diagnostic, and toolkits such as XQ in a Box, XQ Design Journey, the Youth Voice Toolkit, and the XQ PowerUps Bundle (co-developed with Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton College). XQ distributes all resources at no cost via its website, supported by philanthropic funding and grants, with technology integrations into Google Classroom, Canvas, and Schoology. The organization engages roughly 40,000 students across more than 150 U.S. sites through its network of partner schools (including 16 original Super Schools selected from a 2015 open call that drew 10,000 participants across all 50 states) and reaches state-level audiences through partnerships with Rhode Island Department of Education, Kentucky and Idaho Departments of Education, and the Bureau of Indian Education.
XQ Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- XQ Institute
- Legal name
- XQ Institute
- Website
- https://xqsuperschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- XQ Institute is a nonprofit founded in 2015 by Laurene Powell Jobs that partners with U.S. high schools, districts, and state education agencies to reimagine high school through free, research-backed design principles, competency frameworks, curricula, and assessment tools serving roughly 40,000 students across 150+ sites.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
XQ Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Education Transformation
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Higher Education Course Design & Online Program Development (EDAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where XQ Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
XQ Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Philanthropic/Foundation Funding: As a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Laurene Powell Jobs and Russlynn Ali, XQ Institute is primarily funded through philanthropy. Laurene Powell Jobs is the founder and president of Emerson Collective, and XQ operates as an independent affiliate of Emerson Collective.
- Partnership and Grant Revenue: XQ generates revenue through partnerships with states, districts, and educational organizations, including grants for specific initiatives like the Rhode Island partnership and Math Badging pilots in Kentucky, Idaho, and Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Resources for All |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
XQ Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
XQ Institute provides free, research-backed design principles, competency frameworks, and curriculum resources that help U.S. high schools, districts, and state education departments reimagine secondary education. Its portfolio centers on six XQ Design Principles, five XQ Learner Outcomes, the 37-competency XQ Competency Framework, the project-based XQ Math curriculum, mastery-based XQ Math Badging, the XQ Design Journey digital experience, and the XQ in a Box interactive toolkit. XQ also produces the award-winning documentary "The First Class" and partners directly with schools, districts, and states (e.g., Rhode Island, Kentucky, Idaho, Bureau of Indian Education) on transformation programs. All resources are provided at no cost to maximize adoption among educators, students, and families.
Product overview
XQ Institute offers a comprehensive suite of free tools and resources for high school transformation, organized around its core XQ Design Principles (6 research-backed principles) and XQ Learner Outcomes (5 outcomes for adolescent learning). The portfolio includes curriculum products (XQ Math, project-based Algebra I), assessment tools (XQ Math Badging, Educational Outcomes Audit & Analysis, Design Principles Rubric), competency frameworks (XQ Competency Framework with 37 competencies, Competency Navigator, Competency Builders), professional development resources (XQ PowerUps Bundle in partnership with ASU), student empowerment tools (Youth Voice Toolkit), and comprehensive design toolkits (XQ In A Box with 13 modules, XQ Design Journey). The products work together to help communities redesign existing schools or design new ones, with a documentary (The First Class) serving as inspirational content. All resources are free to use.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- XQ Design Principles: Research-backed design principles that guide school communities to rethink high school education.
- XQ Learner Outcomes
- XQ Competencies
- XQ Math
- XQ Math Badging
- Youth Voice Toolkit
- XQ PowerUps Bundle
- XQ in a Box
- The First Class
- Educational Outcomes Audit & Analysis (EOAA)
Products and services
- XQ Design Principles Six research-backed design principles foundational to the XQ school design process: Strong Mission and Culture, Meaningful Engaged Learning, Caring Trusting Relationships, Youth Voice and Choice, Smart Use of Time Space and Tech, and Community Partnerships. Provided free to schools, districts, and communities as the framework XQ uses in its school transformation partnerships.
- XQ Learner Outcomes Five rigorous, scientifically-based outcomes defining what young people need to thrive: Masters of All Fundamental Literacies, Holders of Foundational Knowledge, Original Thinkers for an Uncertain World, Generous Collaborators, and Learners for Life. Provided free for use by schools and districts designing high school experiences.
- XQ Competency Framework A research-backed framework translating XQ Learner Outcomes into 37 specific attainable goals for learning across academic content, cognitive skills, and interpersonal capacities. Provided free for use by schools, teachers, and curriculum designers.
- XQ Competency Navigator An online digital tool that makes the 37 XQ Competencies accessible and easy to use, integrating cognitive and social-emotional skills with academic standards to support college and career readiness. Aimed at teachers and school leaders, and provided free.
- XQ Competency Builders A growing collection of classroom activities that help teachers bring the XQ Competencies into their classrooms, pluggable into existing curriculum in any content area to boost learning across academic, cognitive, and interpersonal dimensions. Provided free.
- Design Principles Rubric A rubric that articulates what 'rethinking high school' looks like in action, with dimensions of practice and indicators to help place schools on a developmental scale from emerging to sustained. Provided free to schools and districts.
- XQ Math An innovative project-based Algebra I program that teaches challenging concepts through practical, relevant, real-life applications, covering all Algebra I standards through projects and targeted fluency-building activities. Free to use with LMS interoperability (Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology). Built for high school math teachers and students.
- XQ Math Badging A groundbreaking initiative empowering students to follow their own learning pathway, earning badges every time they demonstrate mastery of core math concepts. Currently being piloted in Kentucky, Idaho, and select Bureau of Indian Education schools. Provided free.
- Educational Outcomes Audit & Analysis (EOAA) A detailed four-year data portrait that helps schools and states understand how well a high school meets the needs of every student, providing in-depth analysis of a graduating class over all four years of high school. Provided free to states and districts and used to inform graduation standard reforms (e.g., Rhode Island).
- The First Class Documentary A feature-length documentary following the founding class of Crosstown High in Memphis, Tennessee, showcasing one of the innovative XQ schools redefining the future of learning. Aimed at educators, policymakers, communities, and students; available free through TheFirstClass.org.
- XQ PowerUps Bundle Nine professional learning modules blending insights from the science of learning with real examples from schools and classrooms. Created in partnership with ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College with contributions from Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond of the Learning Policy Institute. Organized into an Essential Elements series (six PowerUps) and a How-tos series (three PowerUps). Provided free.
- Youth Voice Toolkit A toolkit with tools to help students understand issues that matter most to them and become catalysts for positive change during their high school journey, including a website, companion guide, and case-making template aligned with XQ's Design Principles and Learner Outcomes. Provided free.
- XQ in a Box A comprehensive interactive digital toolkit with 13 knowledge modules organized in three phases (DISCOVER, DESIGN, DEVELOP) to support community changemakers in tackling high school design challenges. Available in English and Spanish. Provided free.
- XQ Design Journey A community-centered digital experience that guides schools and districts through the work of redesigning high school, based on XQ's design principles and learner outcomes. Provided free.
Quantifiable outcome
- Students in XQ schools are more likely to take advanced courses, complete workplace learning experiences, and feel a strong sense of belonging compared to students nationally.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use XQ Institute
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
XQ Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability4 records
Feature8 records
XQ Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Delaware State UniversityflagshipDelaware State University provides guaranteed admission to HBCU Early College Prep High School students who complete the program, offering an accelerated pathway to earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree.
- UNCF (United Negro College Fund)flagshipUNCF collaborated with XQ Institute and Transcend to develop the HBCU Early College Prep High School model, the first early college high school in New York City modeled after historically Black colleges and universities.
- TranscendflagshipTranscend partnered with UNCF and XQ Institute to develop the HBCU Early College Prep High School model for replication in New York City, New Orleans, and other communities.
- Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton CollegecoreXQ partnered with ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College to create the XQ PowerUps Bundle, professional learning resources blending research with real-world tools for educators.
- Learning Policy InstitutecoreDr. Linda Darling-Hammond of the Learning Policy Institute contributed to the development of XQ PowerUps Bundle, adding expertise in education policy and teacher professional development.
- Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA)coreBrooklyn LAB co-founded EALA with five other partners during the pandemic to create a digital hub and online forum for schools and districts to access professional development resources for supporting students with disabilities.
- Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)flagshipPartnership launched in 2018 to help unlock changes in Cranston schools including schedule reforms that enabled CTE program expansion. EOAA analysis informed new graduation standards establishing college and career-ready coursework as default expectation.
- Kentucky Department of EducationcoreKentucky is piloting XQ Math Badging initiative, testing the mastery-based approach to math education that replaces traditional seat-time progression with badge demonstrations.
- Idaho State Department of EducationcoreIdaho is piloting XQ Math Badging initiative where students respond positively, reporting they 'don't feel stupid anymore' and can 'actually do math' through the badge-based approach.
- Bureau of Indian EducationcoreBureau of Indian Education schools are piloting XQ Math Badging initiative to advance a more rigorous and student-centered approach to math education.
- Crosstown ConcoursecoreCrosstown High is housed inside Crosstown Concourse, a ten-story, one-million-square-foot Memphis landmark redeveloped with over 40 businesses, nonprofits, health facilities, and civic groups.
- Grand Rapids Public MuseumcoreGrand Rapids Public Museum School is a collaboration between the school district, museum, Kendall College of Art and Design, and Grand Valley State University, with students using and exploring over 250,000 artifacts.
- Amazon MGM StudiosminorAmazon MGM Studios is developing the 'Murder 101' podcast about Elizabethton High School students' cold case investigation into a feature-length film, with Jon Watts attached as director.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
XQ Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Transcend: Nonprofit that partners with schools and communities to design innovative learning environments. Directly comparable — and explicitly partnered with XQ and UNCF to develop the HBCU Early College Prep High School model — operating in the same school-redesign niche.
- GreatSchools: National nonprofit providing school information and parent engagement resources for K-12. Comparable to XQ in nonprofit status, parent/student-facing communication model, and ambition to influence K-12 school choice and quality.
- EdReports: Independent nonprofit that provides free, evidence-based reviews of K-12 instructional materials. Comparable to XQ in nonprofit positioning, free resource distribution, and role within the K-12 ecosystem as a trusted intermediary for school decision-makers.
- Big Picture Learning: Nonprofit network of 70+ project-based high schools emphasizing real-world learning and student internships. Directly comparable to XQ in K-12 redesign methodology, network-school model, and project-based pedagogy.
- NewSchools Venture Fund: Philanthropic venture fund focused on K-12 education innovation and school redesign. Highly comparable to XQ in mission (reimagining K-12), funding model (philanthropy-backed), and target audience (school leaders, districts, and edupreneurs).
- Summit Public Schools: Public charter school network with a personalized learning model for high school students. Directly comparable to XQ in targeting high school redesign, competency-based progression, and personalized learning frameworks.
- High Tech High: Network of project-based K-12 schools emphasizing deeper learning and student agency. Comparable to XQ in operating model (school network), pedagogical approach (project-based), and target segment (high school redesign).
- Jobs for the Future: National nonprofit driving education and economic mobility transformations, including high school redesign. Comparable to XQ in policy engagement, state-level partnerships, and focus on college-and-career readiness for underserved students.
Broad incumbents
- DonorsChoose: Nonprofit crowdfunding platform that connects public school teachers with donors to fund classroom resources. Comparable to XQ as a high-profile education nonprofit but operates at a larger scale and broader scope (all K-12 resources vs. high school redesign).
- KIPP Foundation: Large national charter school network focused on college-prep outcomes for underserved students. Overlaps with XQ in K-12 college-readiness mission but operates a much larger school portfolio (200+ schools) with a centralized network model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
XQ Institute social profiles
Digital presenceXQ Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
XQ Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
XQ Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
XQ Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about XQ Institute
What does XQ Institute do?
XQ Institute provides free, research-backed design principles, competency frameworks, and curriculum resources that help U.S. high schools, districts, and state education departments reimagine secondary education. Its portfolio centers on six XQ Design Principles, five XQ Learner Outcomes, the 37-competency XQ Competency Framework, the project-based XQ Math curriculum, mastery-based XQ Math Badging, the XQ Design Journey digital experience, and the XQ in a Box interactive toolkit. XQ also produces the award-winning documentary "The First Class" and partners directly with schools, districts, and states (e.g., Rhode Island, Kentucky, Idaho, Bureau of Indian Education) on transformation programs. All resources are provided at no cost to maximize adoption among educators, students, and families.
Is XQ Institute a public or private company?
XQ Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was XQ Institute founded?
XQ Institute was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is XQ Institute based?
XQ Institute is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does XQ Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic/Foundation Funding is the primary driver. The others are partnership and Grant Revenue.
Who are XQ Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Transcend, GreatSchools, EdReports, Big Picture Learning, NewSchools Venture Fund, Summit Public Schools, High Tech High and Jobs for the Future. Broad incumbents are DonorsChoose and KIPP Foundation.
Does XQ Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for XQ Institute.
What industry is XQ Institute in?
XQ Institute's product category is K-12 Education Transformation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAB, Higher Education Course Design & Online Program Development. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.