Education for Change Public Schools

What Education for Change Public Schools does

Education for Change Public Schools (EFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charter school network founded in 2005 as a partner of the Oakland Unified School District, headquartered in Oakland, California. The network operates six free, public charter schools spanning transitional kindergarten through 12th grade (Achieve Academy TK-5, ASCEND TK-8, Cox Academy TK-5, Latitude High School 9-12, Lazear Charter Academy TK-8, and Learning Without Limits TK-5), collectively serving more than 2,700 students, with 90% qualifying as part of California's unduplicated pupil count (low-income, English learners, or foster youth) in the Fruitvale and Elmhurst neighborhoods.

The network's service platform combines a standardized instructional model (the EFC Instructional Model with its four pillars of rigorous standards-aligned learning, cognitive lift, literacy/math acceleration, and identity-voice-belonging) with a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework and specialty school-level programs (arts-integrated expeditionary learning at ASCEND, Activate Critical Thinking at Achieve, and real-world project-based learning at Latitude High). Core technology consists of Google Workspace-enabled classrooms with site-wide wifi, Finalsite CMS for the public website, SchoolMint for enrollment, and i-Ready for literacy and math assessment. Wraparound services are delivered through a deep partner ecosystem including Seneca Family Agencies (mental health), La Clínica de la Raza (community health), Oakland Leaf and East Bay Agency for Children (expanded learning), and Ujimaa Foundation and Girls Inc.

EFC's revenue model is anchored in per-pupil state apportionment under California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), allocated based on average daily attendance and supplemented by concentration grants tied to its high unduplicated pupil count. Secondary revenue comes from grants and tax-deductible donations through PayPal and a dedicated donations channel. Enrollment is free and open, with families applying through the Oakland Enrolls common application on SchoolMint and seats allocated by lottery when demand exceeds supply. The leadership team is led by Superintendent Larissa Adam and includes a Chief Business Officer, Chief of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Talent & Strategy Officer, and Director of Site Operations, supported by a Board of Directors with two elected family representatives.

Name

Education for Change Public Schools

Legal name

Education for Change Public Schools

Website

https://efcps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Education for Change Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charter network operating six free, public schools in Oakland, California, serving over 2,700 TK-12 students in the Fruitvale and Elmhurst neighborhoods, primarily from low-income, English learner, and foster youth backgrounds, funded by per-pupil state apportionment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Public charter schools
• K-12 education
• Charter school network
• TK-12 education
• School enrollment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a free public charter school network, EFC is funded primarily through per-pupil state apportionment (LCFF) based on average daily attendance. This is the core revenue stream supporting operations across all six schools.
2. Grants and Donations: EFC receives grant funding and individual donations to support programming. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID #20-2204424) and accepts tax-deductible contributions via PayPal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Education for Change Public Schools operates a network of six free, public charter schools in Oakland, California, serving more than 2,700 students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade. The schools deliver tuition-free public education with differentiated instructional models—including arts integration, expeditionary learning, and real-world project-based learning—combined with wraparound social, emotional, and mental health supports for students primarily from underserved Oakland neighborhoods.

Product overview

Education for Change Public Schools is a network of six free, public charter schools serving TK through 12th grade students across Oakland, California. The network operates as a unified portfolio of distinct schools: Achieve Academy (TK-5), ASCEND (TK-8), Cox Academy (TK-5), Latitude High School (9-12), Lazear Charter Academy (TK-8), and Learning Without Limits (TK-5). Each school maintains its own identity and specialized educational approach—including arts integration, expeditionary learning, project-based learning, and community-rooted models—while sharing the network's mission of delivering rigorous academics, strong relationships, and deep community roots. The schools collectively serve over 2,700 students with a focus on underserved communities in the Fruitvale and Elmhurst neighborhoods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Achieve Academy TK-5 A California Distinguished School and one of Oakland's highest-performing elementary campuses serving TK-5th grade students in the Fruitvale neighborhood, known for joyful classrooms, strong literacy growth, and the ACT (Activate Critical Thinking) program.
• ASCEND TK-8 An arts-integrated school serving TK-8th grade students, recognized for its expeditionary learning model, community engagement practices, and personalized instruction with multi-age classrooms.
• Cox Academy TK-5 A caring, family-centered campus serving TK-5th grade students in East Oakland, building strong academic foundations and whole-child support with the motto 'Great on Our Own, Best Together.'
• Latitude High School 9-12

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% graduation rate at Latitude High School
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seneca Family AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership providing trauma-informed mental health services to students and families both on campus and in the community. Mental health resources and contacts listed on school websites.
• East Bay Agency for ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based partner offering expanded learning and social services to support EFC students and families.
• La Clínica de la RazaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health partner providing services to EFC students and families.
• Oakland LeafminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded learning partner offering afterschool programs for EFC students.
• Ujimaa FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing social services and support to EFC students and families.
• Girls Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing programming for EFC students.
• Alder Graduate School of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFC's Teacher Residency program is delivered in partnership with Alder GSE. Residents apprentice in EFC classrooms four days per week with expert mentor teachers. Alder provides the credential and Master's degree program. 97% of graduates obtain full-time teaching positions. EFC offers a $47,500 living stipend to residents.
• Oakland EnrollscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit enrollment coordinator that streamlines the application process for Oakland's public charter schools. Manages the Oakland Common Charter School Application and SchoolMint portal for all six EFC schools, providing a single timeline and centralized enrollment process.
• Reach UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ACOE Path Intern Program, a hybrid 2-year credential program. Candidates work as teacher of record while completing graduate-level coursework with one-on-one coaching and on-site mentorship. Available credentials include Multiple Subjects, Single Subject, Education Specialist, PK-3, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
• Santa Clara County Office of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ACOE Path Intern Program along with Reach University and San Diego County Office of Education. Provides intern credential program for aspiring California teachers.
• San Diego County Office of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ACOE Path Intern Program along with Reach University and Santa Clara County Office of Education. Provides intern credential program for aspiring California teachers.
• Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFC began as a partner to OUSD in 2005 to transform historically underperforming schools into thriving learning communities. EFC schools operate as charter schools authorized by or partnered with OUSD, serving students in Oakland neighborhoods.
• CSU East Bay AmphitheaterminorOthersLatitude High School graduation ceremony held at CSU East Bay Amphitheater, serving as the venue for annual commencement exercises.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aspire Public Schools: California-based nonprofit charter school network operating multiple TK-12 schools serving low-income communities. Directly comparable to EFC as a multi-school charter operator in Northern California with similar mission, student demographics, and public-per-pupil funding model.
• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools: Nonprofit charter school network operating schools primarily serving historically underserved communities. Comparable to EFC in mission, structure, and student demographics; EFC's Chief of Schools Abigail Nuñez was previously a principal and executive director at Alliance.
• Lighthouse Community Public Schools: Oakland-based nonprofit charter school network serving TK-12 students with a focus on equity and college readiness. Directly comparable as a fellow Oakland charter operator serving overlapping neighborhoods and demographics.
• KIPP Public Schools Northern California: National nonprofit charter network with a strong Bay Area presence operating multiple schools serving low-income communities. Comparable in scale, mission, and TK-12 charter model, with overlapping Oakland-area enrollment competition.
• Caliber Public Schools: Bay Area nonprofit charter school network with a mission of developing students of character. Comparable to EFC in mission and operating model; EFC's Chief Talent Officer Ernest Peterson previously served as Chief of Schools at Caliber.
• Envision Schools: Bay Area nonprofit charter school network focused on deeper learning and project-based instruction. Comparable to EFC as a regional charter network serving similar demographics, with overlap in instructional philosophy (Latitude High's project-based model mirrors Envision's approach).
• Summit Public Schools: Bay Area nonprofit charter network known for project-based learning and personalized instruction at the high school level. Comparable to EFC's Latitude High School in instructional model and Bay Area footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Rocketship Public Schools: Large national nonprofit charter network operating elementary schools across multiple states including California. Comparable as a scaled charter operator serving low-income communities, though Rocketship's blended learning model differs from EFC's traditional classroom approach.
• Oakland Unified School District: The traditional public school district that authorized EFC's schools and remains the dominant K-12 provider in Oakland. Comparable as the incumbent provider competing for the same student population; EFC began as an OUSD partner in 2005.

Others

• Alder Graduate School of Education: California-based nonprofit teacher residency and credentialing program. Comparable as a strategic operating partner to EFC (running the Teacher Residency program) and a model for how EFC invests in talent supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@educationforchangepublicsc165?si=azxJ1LN0D19GyDzz
• Facebookfacebook.com/EducationForChangePublicSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/education-for-change-public-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/educationforchange
• Xx.com/efcps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Education for Change Public Schools