Excel Academy
Excel Academy Charter Schools operates a tuition-free charter public school network serving roughly 1,850 students in grades 5–12 across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with a college-preparatory curriculum and a College Access and Post-Secondary Success program supporting alumni for up to six years after graduation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Excel Academy does
Excel Academy Charter Schools is a network of tuition-free public charter schools serving students in grades 5–12 across Massachusetts (East Boston, Chelsea, and an East Boston high school campus) and Rhode Island (a mayoral academy in North Providence and a new high school in Providence opening Fall 2026). Founded in 2003 with one middle school of 100 sixth-grade students in an East Boston strip mall, the network has grown through four Massachusetts campuses to roughly 1,400 MA students and, since 2022, into a Rhode Island campus with a planned expansion to full K-12 serving 2,186 students from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls. The core offering is a rigorous, inclusive college-preparatory program with extended school days/years, AP coursework, individualized academic support, and a 9:1–10:1 teacher-to-student ratio, targeted at historically underserved, predominantly low-income communities of color where 86% of students identify as Latino or African American, 68% are designated high needs, and 60% speak a non-English first language.
The core "products" are the schools themselves plus two structured adjacent programs: the College Access and Post-Secondary Success (CAPS) program, which deploys a seven-person team to support students from 5th grade through six years post-graduation and channels over $100,000 in scholarships; and the Excel Teaching Fellowship, a one-year, full-salary training program providing 1,000+ hours of professional development. Underlying technology for instruction is not proprietary or differentiated — the network relies on standard K-12 tools and state assessments rather than a custom platform.
The business model is nonprofit public education: the majority of revenue flows from per-pupil state reimbursement (charter schools typically receive less than traditional districts and usually no facility funding), supplemented by private philanthropy channeled through Friends of Excel Academy Charter Schools, a 501(c)(3) fundraising arm. Distribution is a blind public lottery (with preferences for siblings and city residents) administered through the Boston Charter School Application (SchoolMint) in MA and EnrollRI in RI, with 1,250+ annual applications — a community-led go-to-market that combines open houses, school visits, community partnerships, and social media outreach rather than paid acquisition. The organization reports outsized outcomes versus sending districts, including a 4x college graduation rate and 94% high school completion across its first six middle-school cohorts, and is ranked in the top 3% of US public high schools (US News, 2021).
Excel Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Excel Academy
- Legal name
- Excel Academy Charter Schools
- Website
- https://excelacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Excel Academy Charter Schools operates a tuition-free charter public school network serving roughly 1,850 students in grades 5–12 across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with a college-preparatory curriculum and a College Access and Post-Secondary Success program supporting alumni for up to six years after graduation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Excel Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)
Keywords
Where Excel Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Excel Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public school district, the majority of Excel Academy's budget is covered by the state's per-pupil reimbursement. Funding is provided on a per-pupil basis with public dollars, though charter schools often receive less than traditional district schools and typically no facility funding.
- Private Philanthropy: Excel raises private money through Friends of Excel Academy (a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID #30-0211613) to support the CAPS program which supports students for up to six years after high school graduation and offers over $100,000 in scholarships. In one year, donors contributed over $200,000 to provide direct support to Excel families.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Excel Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Excel Academy Charter Schools operates a tuition-free public charter school network providing grades 5-12 education across campuses in East Boston, Chelsea, and North Providence/Providence. The network enrolls approximately 1,400 students in Massachusetts and 450 in Rhode Island through a blind public lottery, and supplements classroom instruction with a College Access and Post-Secondary Success (CAPS) program that supports students for up to six years after graduation, including over $100,000 in scholarships.
Product overview
Excel Academy Charter Schools is a network of tuition-free charter public schools providing K-12 education in Massachusetts (four campuses in East Boston and Chelsea) and Rhode Island (mayoral academy). The network comprises three middle schools (grades 5-8), one high school (grades 9-12), and a growing Rhode Island expansion to K-12. The core educational offering is complemented by the CAPS (College Access and Post-Secondary Success) program for post-secondary preparation and the Excel Teaching Fellowship Program for educator development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Excel Academy Massachusetts Schools (East Boston, Chelsea, Greenway) A network of tuition-free charter public middle schools serving grades 5-8 across three East Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts campuses, founded between 2003 and 2012.
- Excel Academy Charter High School A tuition-free charter public high school in East Boston serving grades 9-12, ranked in the top 3% of public high schools nationwide by US News and World Report. Offers AP courses, college counseling, and comprehensive post-secondary support.
- Excel Academy Rhode Island A mayoral academy charter public school serving students from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls. Currently serves grades 5-9 expanding annually to K-12 by 2029-30, with high school opening Fall 2026.
- College Access and Post-Secondary Success (CAPS) Program A comprehensive post-secondary support program with a seven-person team offering college application assistance, financial aid guidance, overnight college visits, and alumni follow-up support for up to six years after high school graduation, along with over $100,000 in scholarships.
- Excel Teaching Fellowship Program A rigorous in-house educator development program providing aspiring teachers with experienced mentors, over 1,000 hours of professional development, weekly coaching, and full salary with comprehensive benefits over one academic year.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% high school graduation rate for first six middle school graduating classes
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Excel Academy
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Excel Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Excel Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Johnson & Wales UniversitycoreJohnson & Wales University owns the building at 291 Westminster St. in downtown Providence where Excel Academy Rhode Island High School will relocate. This secures a long-term home for the school after what was described as a difficult period for charter schools in Rhode Island. The high school will occupy the JWU-owned building, marking a significant partnership for facility stability.
- Moses Brown SchoolminorFootball co-op announced between Excel Academy Rhode Island and Moses Brown School for Fall 2026. This athletic partnership allows students from both schools to participate in football as a combined team, expanding extracurricular opportunities for Excel Academy students.
- Regis CollegeminorRegis College hosts overnight college experience for Excel Academy 8th graders as part of the CAPS college access programming. Students explore campus, stay in residence halls, connect with college students, and learn about post-secondary options.
- CareerBound Fair Employer PartnersminorVarious employer partners participate in Excel Academy's annual CareerBound Fair, connecting students with career exploration opportunities. The fair covers trades, military, and apprenticeship pathways in addition to college preparation.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Excel Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Success Academy Charter Schools: NYC-based high-performing charter network with demonstrated top-tier student outcomes and aggressive multi-site replication. Comparable outcomes-differentiated charter model serving predominantly low-income students of color.
- Uncommon Schools: Multi-state charter network operating college-prep public schools with extended day/year and selective college outcomes for low-income students. Comparable operating model, outcomes orientation, and multi-site replication trajectory.
- Achievement First: Nonprofit charter management organization running K-12 college-prep schools in CT, NY, and RI. Directly comparable mission, demographics, and college-prep focus; Rhode Island presence makes it a particularly relevant regional peer.
- Match Charter Public School: Boston-based charter public school serving grades K-12 with extended day model and college-prep curriculum. Operates in the same Boston geography as Excel with a similar underserved-student, results-driven charter model.
- Brooke Charter Schools: Boston-based charter network operating multiple campuses serving K-12 students in East Boston and surrounding communities, with a college-prep mission. Direct regional peer operating in Excel's immediate geography with comparable demographics and student outcomes focus.
- KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): Largest US charter school network serving predominantly underserved K-12 students with college-prep focus, extended day/year, and alumni support. Closest direct comparable to Excel's multi-site, college-prep charter model with similar mission alignment to underserved communities.
- Noble Network of Charter Schools: Large urban charter network operating high schools with extended day/year model focused on college persistence for low-income students in Chicago. Comparable rigorous college-prep model and post-secondary outcomes orientation.
Regional players
- Codman Academy Charter Public School: Boston charter school serving grades K-12 with college-prep mission; selected exclusively by lottery from Boston residents. Comparable charter model and Boston geography with similar focus on college persistence for underserved students.
- Roxbury Preparatory Charter School: Boston-based charter public school (K-12) serving historically underserved students with extended day model and college-prep curriculum. Comparable regional peer serving similar Boston communities with similar mission.
Broad incumbents
- GreenDot Public Schools: Established charter management organization operating public high schools across multiple states with college-prep focus. Comparable multi-site charter operations and student demographic profile to Excel's network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Excel Academy social profiles
Digital presenceExcel Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Excel Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Excel Academy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Excel Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Excel Academy 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 Excel Academy
What does Excel Academy do?
Excel Academy Charter Schools operates a tuition-free public charter school network providing grades 5-12 education across campuses in East Boston, Chelsea, and North Providence/Providence. The network enrolls approximately 1,400 students in Massachusetts and 450 in Rhode Island through a blind public lottery, and supplements classroom instruction with a College Access and Post-Secondary Success (CAPS) program that supports students for up to six years after graduation, including over $100,000 in scholarships.
Is Excel Academy a public or private company?
Excel Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Excel Academy founded?
Excel Academy was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Excel Academy based?
Excel Academy is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Excel Academy make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State Funding is the primary driver. The others are private Philanthropy.
Who are Excel Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Success Academy Charter Schools, Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, Match Charter Public School, Brooke Charter Schools, KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) and Noble Network of Charter Schools. Regional players are Codman Academy Charter Public School and Roxbury Preparatory Charter School. GreenDot Public Schools is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Excel Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Excel Academy.
What industry is Excel Academy in?
Excel Academy's product category is K-12 Charter Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAC, Charter School Networks (Multi-Site), with a secondary code of EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.