String Theory Schools
Nonprofit education design and management organization operating two Philadelphia charter schools (K-12), delivering arts-integrated academic curricula to Philadelphia students and families via per-pupil public funding and supplemental philanthropy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What String Theory Schools does
String Theory Schools is a nonprofit education design and management organization headquartered at 1600 Vine Street, Philadelphia, that operates two public charter schools: Philadelphia Performing Arts (PPA, K-12, with Vine Street, East, and West campuses) and The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences (K-8). The organization traces its roots to Fall 2000, when its first school opened with an arts-immersive curriculum; after twelve years of growth, String Theory Schools was formally created in 2012 to expand the original charter's mission to more Philadelphia families. Its core offering is an arts-infused curriculum that equally emphasizes academic rigor and artistic development, anchored by The Majors Program (concentrations in classical ballet, contemporary dance, vocal arts, instrumental music, theatre, visual arts, design, and science), the IDeATE/School of Design, String Theory Players (a nonprofit student theatre company), the School of Science and Technology, and the recently launched String Theory College — an early college program enabling students to graduate with both a high school diploma and college credits at no cost.
The business model is per-pupil public charter school funding with no tuition charged to families; admissions are managed through a public lottery for PPA and a catchment-area process for Arts and Sciences, with supplemental revenue from charitable contributions via a 'Make a Gift' program. The technology stack supporting instruction and operations comprises PowerSchool (student information), Canvas (learning management), Seesaw (digital portfolios and parent communication), and Finalsite (website); Common Sense Media provides digital citizenship resources. The organization is led by co-founders Angela Corosanite and Joseph Corosanite (co-CEOs) and Jason Corosanite, with a Board of Trustees and a functional leadership team spanning technology, innovation, data management, compliance, testing, special education, psychological services, teaching and learning, communications, and facilities. Recent product and partnership activity — String Theory College (2023), the AIR Dogs therapy dog program (2025), the Music Garden (2025), and ongoing Kimmel Center, Philadelphia Pops, University of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia NAACP collaborations — indicates continued investment in student experience differentiation and civic positioning within the Philadelphia education ecosystem.
String Theory Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- String Theory Schools
- Legal name
- String Theory Schools
- Website
- https://stringtheoryschools.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Nonprofit education design and management organization operating two Philadelphia charter schools (K-12), delivering arts-integrated academic curricula to Philadelphia students and families via per-pupil public funding and supplemental philanthropy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
String Theory Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)
Keywords
Where String Theory Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
String Theory Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charter School Per-Pupil Funding: As a nonprofit charter school management organization, String Theory Schools receives per-pupil public funding based on enrollment. This is the primary revenue stream supporting operations across its two schools.
- Donations and Philanthropy: The organization operates as a nonprofit and accepts charitable contributions through its 'Make a Gift' program to supplement public funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free public charter school education (K-12) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
String Theory Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
String Theory Schools is a nonprofit education design and management organization that operates two Philadelphia public charter schools — Philadelphia Performing Arts (K-12) and The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences (K-8). It delivers a free arts-immersive academic curriculum combining rigorous academics with majors programs in performing arts, sciences, design, and technology, plus an early college program (String Theory College) allowing students to graduate with both high school diplomas and college credits.
Product overview
String Theory Schools is a nonprofit education design and management organization operating two Philadelphia charter schools: Philadelphia Performing Arts (K-12) and The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences (K-8). The organization offers a comprehensive educational program that equally emphasizes academic and artistic excellence through an arts-immersive curriculum. Key offerings include specialized Majors Programs (classical ballet, contemporary dance, vocal arts, instrumental music, theatre, visual arts, design, science), the IDeATE/School of Design program with Design Day capstone events, String Theory Players theatre company, and String Theory College (an early college program offering free college credits). Additional programs include Café Vine student enterprise, therapy dog program, and the Music Garden facility. The technology stack includes PowerSchool (SIS), Canvas (LMS), and Seesaw for student portfolio and family communication.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Philadelphia Performing Arts A K-12 charter school offering a comprehensive educational program that emphasizes equally academic and artistic excellence through an arts-immersive curriculum. Students are admitted via a public lottery system.
- The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences A K-8 charter school providing arts and sciences education with a focus on nurturing individual student potential through a comprehensive curriculum. Students are admitted based on catchment area and available seats.
- String Theory College An early college program allowing students to graduate with both high school diplomas and college credits for free.
- IDeATE (School of Design) Design-focused major program at the Vine Street Campus featuring disciplines in design, fashion, and architecture with capstone events like Design Day.
- The Majors Program Specialized concentration programs allowing students to focus on disciplines including classical ballet, contemporary dance, vocal arts, instrumental music, visual arts, theatre, and design.
- String Theory Players In-house, nonprofit student theatre company open to all students, producing Broadway-style performances and musicals.
- School of Science and Technology STEM-focused program featuring majors in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Innovation in Science with research projects and science fairs.
- Café Vine Student-run coffee shop at the Vine Street Campus providing hands-on internship experience; now open to the public with takeout service.
Quantifiable outcome
- 180 seniors submitted 2,808 college applications and were awarded over $25 million in college scholarships in the 2023 graduating class.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use String Theory Schools
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
String Theory Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
String Theory Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- AIR DogsminorString Theory Schools launched a therapy dog program in partnership with AIR Dogs at all three Philadelphia Performing Arts campuses and Arts and Sciences. The program is designed to support student well-being and emotional health across the schools.
- University of PennsylvaniaminorFaculty from the University of Pennsylvania served as special guest judges at the annual Science Fair, evaluating research projects presented by Innovation in Science Majors students at String Theory Schools.
- Kimmel CenterminorThe Kimmel Center serves as a performance venue for String Theory Schools' spring concerts and graduation ceremonies, hosting both Philadelphia Performing Arts and Arts and Sciences student performances.
- Philadelphia PopsminorHigh school vocal majors performed at the Kimmel Center alongside Broadway artist Brandy Gonzalez and the Philadelphia Pops, placing students at the center of Philadelphia's premier performing arts community.
- Philadelphia Branch of the NAACPminorString Theory Schools collaborated with the Philadelphia Branch of the NAACP to plan 'Growing Philadelphia: A Mayoral Candidate Forum on Technology, Innovation and Public Education' held at Philadelphia Performing Arts, Vine Street Campus.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
String Theory Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Uncommon Schools: Nonprofit CMO running a network of high-performing urban charter schools with strong college-prep outcomes. Comparable on nonprofit CMO structure, college-readiness focus, and replication playbook.
- IDEA Public Schools: National nonprofit CMO operating K-12 public charter schools with a college-prep mission and strong outcomes track record. Comparable scale and operating model as a multi-campus charter network.
- Democracy Prep Public Schools: Nonprofit CMO running a network of urban charter schools with a rigorous college-prep focus and proven college outcomes. Comparable on CMO structure, urban demographic focus, and outcome-driven brand.
- KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): National nonprofit charter management organization operating a network of K-12 public charter schools with a college-prep mission. KIPP is the largest direct peer as a CMO with comparable operating model, college-outcome focus, and replication strategy.
- Success Academy Charter Schools: Large urban charter school network known for exceptional test-score outcomes and high parent demand/lotteries. Comparable as a high-performing CMO with lottery-driven admissions and outsized waitlists.
- Mastery Charter Schools: Philadelphia-based nonprofit CMO operating multiple K-12 charter campuses in the same city. Highly comparable on geography, student demographics, funding model, and competition for the same Philadelphia family pool.
Emerging players
- New World School of the Arts: Public magnet school in Miami integrating arts and academics across high school and early college. Comparable on arts-immersion academic model, though magnet rather than charter; useful comp for the arts-academic differentiation.
Regional players
- Green Woods Charter School: Philadelphia-based K-8 charter school with a similar mission of individualized student education. Comparable as a direct Philadelphia charter competitor serving overlapping families and competing for the same catchment/lottery pools.
- Aspira Charter Schools: Philadelphia-area nonprofit operating charter schools with a college-and-career readiness focus. Comparable as a regional charter operator targeting similar urban Philadelphia demographics and public-per-pupil funding model.
- Foundations Academy (Philadelphia): Philadelphia charter school operator focused on college preparation for urban students. Comparable as a Philadelphia-based charter competitor serving similar demographics with public per-pupil funding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
String Theory Schools social profiles
Digital presenceString Theory Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
String Theory Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
String Theory Schools subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
String Theory Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
String Theory Schools 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 String Theory Schools
What does String Theory Schools do?
String Theory Schools is a nonprofit education design and management organization that operates two Philadelphia public charter schools — Philadelphia Performing Arts (K-12) and The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences (K-8). It delivers a free arts-immersive academic curriculum combining rigorous academics with majors programs in performing arts, sciences, design, and technology, plus an early college program (String Theory College) allowing students to graduate with both high school diplomas and college credits.
Is String Theory Schools a public or private company?
String Theory Schools is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was String Theory Schools founded?
String Theory Schools was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is String Theory Schools based?
String Theory Schools is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does String Theory Schools make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Charter School Per-Pupil Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy.
Who are String Theory Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Uncommon Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Democracy Prep Public Schools, KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), Success Academy Charter Schools and Mastery Charter Schools. New World School of the Arts is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Green Woods Charter School, Aspira Charter Schools and Foundations Academy (Philadelphia).
Does String Theory Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for String Theory Schools.
What industry is String Theory Schools in?
String Theory Schools's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.