Summit Public Schools
Summit Public Schools is a nonprofit Charter Management Organization operating tuition-free public charter schools in California and Washington, serving middle and high school students with a personalized learning, mentoring, and college-prep model, and distributing its Summit Learning platform to 380+ schools nationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersRedwood City, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Summit Public Schools does
Summit Public Schools is a nonprofit Charter Management Organization headquartered in Redwood City, California, founded in 2003 by Diane Tavenner. It operates a network of tuition-free public charter schools in California and Washington State, currently running seven active campuses serving grades 6-12, including Summit Prep (Redwood City), Summit Tahoma (San Jose), Summit Shasta (Daly City), Summit K2 (El Cerrito/Richmond), Summit Tamalpais (Richmond), Summit Atlas (West Seattle), and Summit Sierra (Seattle). The network previously operated additional campuses (Denali, Olympus, Everest) that have since closed, reducing the directly-operated footprint from a peak of roughly 11-14 schools.
The organization's core product is its personalized learning model, which combines 1:1 mentoring, self-directed learning cycles, real-world project work, and an Expeditions experiential-learning program. The underlying technology is the Summit Learning Platform (originally Summit Basecamp), a personalized learning and grading system that was shared freely with over 380 schools, 3,800 educators, and 72,000 students across 40 states. In 2018 Summit spun off the platform into a separate nonprofit to meet nationwide demand. The network has documented outcomes including 96% four-year college readiness among graduates and college completion rates nearly twice the national average, supported by partnerships such as the Marshall Teacher Residency and Silicon Schools Fund.
Summit's business model is a nonprofit public charter school operator funded primarily by per-pupil state allocations in California and Washington, supplemented by philanthropic grants (notably a $10M 2017 grant from the Silicon Schools Fund and support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative). Enrollment is open to all students through a lottery system administered via the SchoolMint platform, with demand generated through community events, open houses, virtual tours, and earned-media coverage. The organization operates with 251-500 employees and is governed by separate California and Washington Boards of Directors.
Summit Public Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Summit Public Schools
- Legal name
- Summit Public Schools
- Website
- https://summitps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Summit Public Schools is a nonprofit Charter Management Organization operating tuition-free public charter schools in California and Washington, serving middle and high school students with a personalized learning, mentoring, and college-prep model, and distributing its Summit Learning platform to 380+ schools nationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Summit Public 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 School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)
Keywords
Where Summit Public Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redwood City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Summit Public Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Funding: As public charter schools, Summit receives per-pupil funding from California and Washington state governments based on enrollment. This is the primary revenue source.
- Grant Funding: Summit has received grant funding including a $10 million grant from the Silicon Schools Fund and support from foundations for program development and expansion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Public Education |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Summit Public Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Summit Public Schools operates a network of tuition-free public charter schools in California and Washington, providing personalized college-preparatory education for grades 6-12. The schools deliver a self-directed learning methodology with weekly 1:1 mentoring, real-world project-based learning, and an Expeditions experiential program designed to prepare diverse student populations for college and career success.
Product overview
Summit Public Schools operates as a network of free public charter schools in California and Washington. The organization manages seven distinct school campuses: Summit K2 (El Cerrito/Richmond), Summit Prep (Redwood City), Summit Shasta (Daly City), Summit Tahoma (San Jose), Summit Tamalpais (Richmond), Summit Atlas (West Seattle), and Summit Sierra (Seattle). Each school provides personalized, college-preparatory education with 1:1 mentoring, real-world projects, and self-directed learning. The organization also developed and shares its Summit Learning Platform (formerly Summit Basecamp) with schools nationwide at no cost. The educational model emphasizes personalized learning, mentoring, expeditions experiences, and preparation for students' Concrete Next Steps after high school.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Summit Prep: Summit Preparatory High School - located in Redwood City, CA. Founded 2003 as the inaugural Summit school.
- Summit K2
- Summit Shasta
- Summit Tahoma
- Summit Tamalpais
- Summit Atlas
- Summit Sierra
Products and services
- Summit Prep A tuition-free public charter high school located in Redwood City, California, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the country. Provides personalized learning, mentoring, and college-preparatory education.
- Summit Tahoma A public charter high school opened in 2011 in San Jose, California, authorized by Santa Clara County Board of Education. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a best high school.
- Summit Shasta A free public charter high school founded in 2013 in Daly City, California. Ranked among the nation's best high schools by U.S. News & World Report.
- Summit K2 A free public charter school serving grades 7-12 in El Cerrito/Richmond, California. Part of the Summit network providing personalized learning, mentoring, and college-preparatory education.
- Summit Sierra A small, personalized college-prep public high school opened in 2015 in Seattle's Chinatown International District. First graduating class in 2019 achieved 100% four-year college acceptance.
- Summit Tamalpais A public school serving grades 7-12, opened in fall 2016 in Richmond, California. Provides a college-ready, personalized learning experience in a diverse student community.
- Summit Atlas A tuition-free public charter school opened in 2017 serving grades 6-12 in West Seattle, Washington. Authorized by Washington State Charter School Commission.
- Summit Learning Platform Summit Public Schools' instructional approach and personalized learning platform shared with over 380 schools, 3,800 educators, and 72,000 students across the country for free. Originally called Summit Basecamp.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% of graduates are 4-year college ready
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Summit Public Schools
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Summit Public Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Summit Public Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- First Charter Graduates in Washington StateminorSummit Sierra and Summit Olympus celebrated the first graduating charter school classes in Washington State history.
- League of Education Voters FoundationminorDan Effland serves on the Board of Directors for the League of Education Voters Foundation as part of Summit's community engagement.
- Washington State Charter Schools AssociationminorDan Effland serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington State Charter Schools Association.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Summit Public Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): Largest U.S. charter management organization operating multi-state networks of college-preparatory public charter schools. Directly comparable to Summit in mission, model (college prep, personalized learning, charter replication), and funding model.
- Uncommon Schools: Northeast-based charter management organization running college-prep public charter schools. Highly comparable to Summit in network model, college readiness focus, and emphasis on teacher development (Uncommon is also referenced in Summit leadership bios).
- Success Academy Charter Schools: NYC-based CMO with strong college-prep outcomes across a multi-site charter network. Comparable to Summit on network scale, outcomes-driven brand, and college readiness metrics.
- Alliance College Ready Public Schools: California-based charter management organization operating a network of college-prep schools. Directly comparable to Summit on multi-site charter operations in California; referenced in Summit management team biographies.
- Aspire Public Schools: California-based nonprofit CMO operating a multi-site network of college-preparatory charter schools. Comparable to Summit on California footprint, charter operations, and college readiness outcomes.
- Green Dot Public Schools: California-rooted charter management organization operating multi-site college-prep public schools. Comparable to Summit on charter network operations in California and college-prep mission.
- PUC Schools: Los Angeles-based charter management organization referenced in Summit's executive bios. Comparable as a multi-site California charter network with college-prep focus and teacher development investment.
- Rocketship Public Schools: Multi-state charter network operating elementary and middle schools with a strong personalized learning / blended-learning orientation. Comparable to Summit on tech-enabled personalized instruction at charter scale.
- Envision Education: Bay Area charter management organization operating multiple college-prep schools; the destination of Summit's former Chief Program Officer. Directly comparable as a regional CMO with a similar personalized learning orientation.
Broad incumbents
- EdTec: Back-office services provider to charter schools; previously employed Summit's CFO. Compares as an ecosystem participant supporting the operational backbone of charter networks like Summit.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Summit Public Schools social profiles
Digital presenceSummit Public Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Summit Public Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Summit Public Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Summit Public 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 Summit Public Schools
What does Summit Public Schools do?
Summit Public Schools operates a network of tuition-free public charter schools in California and Washington, providing personalized college-preparatory education for grades 6-12. The schools deliver a self-directed learning methodology with weekly 1:1 mentoring, real-world project-based learning, and an Expeditions experiential program designed to prepare diverse student populations for college and career success.
Is Summit Public Schools a public or private company?
Summit Public Schools is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Summit Public Schools founded?
Summit Public Schools was founded in 2003. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Summit Public Schools based?
Summit Public Schools is headquartered in Redwood City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Summit Public Schools make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State Funding is the primary driver. The others are grant Funding.
Who are Summit Public Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), Uncommon Schools, Success Academy Charter Schools, Alliance College Ready Public Schools, Aspire Public Schools, Green Dot Public Schools, PUC Schools, Rocketship Public Schools and Envision Education. EdTec is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Summit Public Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Summit Public Schools.
What industry is Summit Public Schools in?
Summit Public Schools's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAC, Charter School Networks (Multi-Site). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.