DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI)

Name

DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI)

Legal name

DREAM

Website

https://wearedream.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Charter School Education (K-12)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Post-Secondary Transition Planning & Coordination (EDAKANAA)

Keywords

• Public charter schools
• Whole child education
• After-school programming
• College readiness programs
• Youth development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: DREAM operates as a free, public charter school network. Funding comes from government per-pupil allocations and federal/state programs including a $28 million Head Start grant (2026) to serve an additional 230 children ages 0-4 each year.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations (one-time and monthly Champions program), corporate sponsorships, event fundraising (Gala, DREAM UP), and employer matching programs. DREAM accepts contributions via online portal, phone/mail, cryptocurrency, stock, wire, and planned giving.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations for career readiness programs, summer program sponsorships, team sponsorships, technology labs, and scholarship funding (e.g., Bank of America supporting Upward Pathways job readiness program, Jalen Brunson's $300,000 commitment to Scratch Food Program).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DREAM operates a network of seven free, public charter schools serving students from pre-K through 12th grade across East Harlem and the Bronx in New York City. The organization delivers its "Grow the Whole Child" education model integrating rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, and family and community engagement. Services are provided at no cost to families through lottery-based enrollment, with extended-day (7:45 AM - 5:45 PM) and extended-year programming plus alumni support through the Legends program for up to six years post-graduation.

Product overview

DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI) is a network of free, public charter schools and community-based youth development programs in New York City. The organization operates a unified portfolio of educational products centered around its 'Grow the Whole Child' model, which includes seven schools across East Harlem and the Bronx serving PreK-12 students: DREAM East Harlem Pre-K, DREAM East Harlem Elementary School, DREAM East Harlem Middle School, DREAM Highbridge Elementary School, DREAM Highbridge Middle School, DREAM Mott Haven Elementary School, DREAM Mott Haven Middle School, and DREAM Charter High School. Complementing the school network are youth development programs including REAL Kids and DREAM University (summer programming), the Legends Fellows alumni support program, Upward Pathways career support, the DREAM Teaching Fellowship (educator preparation), and the Scratch Food Program. The organization was founded in 1991 and rebranded from Harlem RBI to DREAM in 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DREAM East Harlem Pre-K Early childhood education program located at 433 East 100th Street in East Harlem, serving Pre-K scholars. Offers free afterschool and summer programming as part of the Grow the Whole Child model.
• DREAM East Harlem Elementary School Charter elementary school located at 1991 2nd Avenue in East Harlem, serving scholars in grades K-5. Offers free afterschool and summer programming.
• DREAM East Harlem Middle School Charter middle school located at 1991 2nd Avenue in East Harlem, serving scholars in grades 6-8. Offers free afterschool and summer programming.
• DREAM Highbridge Elementary School Charter elementary school in the Bronx at 1162 River Ave, NY 10452, enrolling for Grades K-4 and growing by one grade each year. Offers free afterschool and summer programming.
• DREAM Highbridge Middle School Charter middle school in the Bronx at 1162 River Ave, NY 10452, currently enrolling for grades 6-8. Offers free afterschool and summer programming.
• DREAM Mott Haven Elementary School Charter elementary school at 20 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, serving scholars in grades K-5. Offers free afterschool and summer programming.
• DREAM Mott Haven Middle School Charter middle school at 20 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, currently enrolling Grades 6-8. Offers free afterschool and summer programming.
• DREAM Charter High School Charter high school at 20 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, serving scholars in grades 9-12. Founded in 2017 with 99% graduation rate. Offers free afterschool and summer programming including summer employment opportunities.
• REAL Kids Summer programming for current Pre-K through Grade 4 students, focusing on academic support, social-emotional learning, sports-based programming, and enrichment activities like field trips. All programming is free.
• DREAM University Summer programming for current Grades 5-7 students, focusing on academic support, social-emotional learning, sports-based programming, and enrichment activities. All programming is free.
• Legends Fellows Program Alumni support program providing up to six years of intensive postsecondary support including transition to college (Summer Bridge program), career exposure, caseload management, community involvement, and leadership opportunities.
• Upward Pathways Initiative supporting DREAM Charter High School alumni pursuing career paths without a Bachelor's degree, providing training and certification, mentorship, case management, and job placement support.
• DREAM Teaching Fellowship Yearlong fellowship program recruiting DREAM alumni and part-time staff to become teachers. Provides competitive salary and benefits including scholarship toward a Bachelor's or Master's degree, mentorship, on-the-job learning, and expert training, with full-time placement upon completion.
• Scratch Food Program From-scratch food program in partnership with Brigaid, providing healthy school meals. Award-winning food program that serves 677,000+ school meals annually and provides food pantry support for over 1,200 families.
• Head Start Program Comprehensive early childhood program including health screenings, nutritious meals, social-emotional learning, mental health support, and family advocate partnerships for children ages 0-4 at all three DREAM campuses, including 3K and Pre-K programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% high school graduation rate
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BrigaidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2023DREAM partners with Brigaid to launch a from-scratch food program in the Bronx school. Brigaid provides chef-led food services that prepare healthy, freshly-made meals for students. This partnership supports DREAM's health and wellness pillar by improving food quality and nutrition education.
• RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2022DREAM partners with RIT for college and career initiatives, supporting postsecondary pathways for DREAM students.
• The Players AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with Major League Baseball dating to 1991. Together with Microsoft, The Players Alliance turned a DREAM classroom into a state-of-the-art technology lab. Shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and love of baseball.
• TOPPSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2010Since 2010, TOPPS has partnered with DREAM to provide pivotal support for summer programs and has become a staple partner at events including Champ Day, where they provide 50 volunteers annually. Shared baseball roots connection.
• Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJKR led DREAM's organizational rebrand from Harlem RBI to DREAM, providing pro bono support including logo design, color identity, and branding guidelines. Their executives contributed significant hours of sweat equity.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with The Players Alliance to create a state-of-the-art technology lab for DREAM scholars. Technology partnership supporting digital literacy and career readiness.
• SUNY Charter Schools InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUNY Board of Trustees is DREAM Charter Schools' authorizer. They provide oversight and support for charter school operations.
• College and University PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDREAM has partnerships with over 50 colleges and universities including Barnard, Brown, Columbia, Georgetown, Howard, NYU, Notre Dame Law, UPenn, Stanford, Yale, and various SUNY and CUNY institutions. These partnerships support college visits, admissions guidance, and scholarship opportunities for DREAM students.
• Employer PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDREAM has career partnerships with major employers including Apple, Bloomberg, Google, Microsoft, MLB, Mount Sinai, NBC, Neiman Marcus, NYC Health + Hospitals, and PwC. These partners provide career exposure, internships, mentorship, and employment opportunities for DREAM alumni.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Achievement First: Brooklyn- and New Haven-based charter network operating ~40 schools serving ~14,000 students K-12. Comparable extended-day, college-prep charter model with strong alumni outcomes focus.
• KIPP NYC: NYC affiliate of KIPP national charter network operating multiple schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx serving ~6,000 students. Comparable Whole Child / college-prep charter model with alumni support programs.
• Uncommon Schools: Northeast charter network (Brooklyn, Boston, Newark) operating ~20+ schools with extended-day/year and college persistence focus. Direct peer in CMO scale and Whole Child / alumni support model.
• Ascend Public Charter Schools: Brooklyn-based charter network operating ~15 schools K-12. Comparable K-12 charter operator with former DREAM Chief Education Officer Crystal Lane on prior leadership.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: NYC-based charter school network operating ~50 schools serving ~20,000 K-12 students. Closest comparable operator by geography, urban charter model, and growth trajectory; overlaps with DREAM in East Harlem/Bronx recruitment zones.
• Democracy Prep Public Schools: NYC-based charter network operating ~22 schools in Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Newark. Comparable in operating K-12 charter system with extended-day model and civic-leadership whole-child framing.

Regional players

• Harlem Children's Zone: Harlem-located nonprofit cradle-to-career pipeline serving ~13,000 children via schools, after-school, and social services. Closest geographic peer sharing East Harlem footprint and birth-to-career model.

Broad incumbents

• GreenDot Public Schools: Los Angeles-headquartered charter network operating ~20 schools serving ~13,000 students. Comparable urban charter CMO at scale with whole-child orientation, though West Coast focused.
• New York City Department of Education: NYC's traditional public school district serving ~1M students across 1,600+ schools. Functions as both DREAM's competitor for enrollment and its authorizer environment; DREAM outperforms district averages per the data.

Emerging players

• Hebrew Public Charter Schools: NYC-area charter network with small footprint similar to DREAM, operates K-8 schools focused on global citizenship. Comparable in size and charter mission alignment though lighter on community-based programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearedream
• Facebookfacebook.com/wearedreamorg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI)