VocabularySpellingCity

What VocabularySpellingCity does

VocabularySpellingCity is a K-5 literacy platform that delivers game-based vocabulary, spelling, and phonics practice to elementary teachers and students. The core product is a digital, web- and mobile-based learning environment that takes teacher-assigned word lists and turns them into game-based activities, quizzes, and printable materials; each word in the Vocabulary A-Z word bank is paired with a definition, part of speech, multiple-choice assessment question, and example sentences, and the system auto-generates five-day lesson plans and produces skills, activity, and assignment reports for teachers. The platform is being upgraded and rebranded from VocabularySpellingCity to Vocabulary A-Z, and the Kids A-Z mobile app (available on Apple, Android, and Amazon devices) extends practice into the home environment.

The company is operated by LAZEL, Inc. (legal entity) and marketed as a brand of Learning A-Z, which itself sits under Cambium Learning Group. The Learning A-Z portfolio also includes Raz-Plus, Raz-Plus ELL, Raz-Plus Español, Raz-Kids, Reading A-Z, Foundations A-Z, Science A-Z, and Writing A-Z, positioning Vocabulary A-Z within a broader K-5 supplemental literacy bundle rather than as a standalone product.

Vocabulary A-Z / VocabularySpellingCity monetizes primarily through one-year classroom subscriptions sold directly to teachers and schools via the Learning A-Z website, with a 90-day free trial (no credit card required) acting as a self-serve, product-led acquisition funnel. GTM is a mix of product-led growth and direct-to-consumer, augmented by content marketing (Breakroom blog), organic social, and live professional learning events, with Cambium's global sales team handling larger school and district opportunities. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, has 51-100 employees, and has been operating in K-6 literacy for over 20 years.

Name

VocabularySpellingCity

Legal name

LAZEL, Inc.

Website

https://spellingcity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

VocabularySpellingCity is a K-5 game-based literacy platform (now branded Vocabulary A-Z) that helps elementary teachers deliver vocabulary, spelling, and phonics instruction via web and mobile, operated by LAZEL, Inc. under Cambium Learning Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Literacy Education Software

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Information (51)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy Foundations (Phonics, Reading Fluency, Comprehension) Platforms (EDAFAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & Reading Intervention Technology (EDAJAMAF), Vocabulary, Flashcards, SRS & Memorization Platforms (EDAFAOAF), Spelling, Vocabulary & Word Study Programs (EDAMAJAD)

Keywords

• K-12 literacy software
• Vocabulary learning platform
• Spelling practice app
• Educational technology solutions
• Phonics instruction tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Classroom Subscriptions: Annual classroom subscription model where teachers or schools purchase one-year access to the VocabularySpellingCity/Vocabulary A-Z platform for student use. Subscriptions are sold directly through the website with pricing based on classroom size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VocabularySpellingCity is a game-based K-5 literacy platform that helps teachers build vocabulary, spelling, and phonics skills through digital practice activities, customizable word lists, auto-generated lesson plans, and student performance reporting. The legacy VocabularySpellingCity product is being upgraded and rebranded to Vocabulary A-Z, which combines the original game-based activities with additional instructional materials, comprehensive word bank content, and mobile access via the Kids A-Z app.

Product overview

Learning A-Z offers a platform-plus-modules portfolio of literacy education products under the Cambium Learning Group umbrella. The core offering includes Vocabulary A-Z (the unified successor to VocabularySpellingCity), which combines vocabulary, phonics, and spelling instruction with game-based activities and mobile access. This integrates with Raz-Plus, the all-in-one K-5 literacy platform, which has specialized add-ons for English Language Learners (Raz-Plus ELL) and dual-language classrooms (Raz-Plus Español). Additional standalone products include Raz-Kids for independent digital reading practice, Reading A-Z for teacher-led differentiated instruction, Foundations A-Z for foundational skills aligned to the Science of Reading, Science A-Z for K-6 science curriculum, and Writing A-Z for K-5 composition and grammar instruction. The portfolio serves teachers and students across K-6 grade levels with both teacher-use tools and student practice resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids A-Z: Mobile app for Apple, Android, and Amazon mobile devices that supports student practice anywhere.

Products and services

• Vocabulary A-Z A versatile K-5 vocabulary builder that helps teachers differentiate vocabulary, phonics, and spelling instruction with premade and customizable word lists, lessons, games, and quizzes. Combines the digital, game-based VocabularySpellingCity activities with additional instructional materials, reporting tools, and mobile access via the Kids A-Z app. The original VocabularySpellingCity product is consolidated into this offering.
• Raz-Plus An all-in-one K-5 supplemental literacy solution that provides teachers with everything needed to support Science of Reading-aligned instruction, combining teacher-use tools and student practice resources.
• Raz-Plus ELL An add-on to Raz-Plus that supports equitable instruction in linguistically diverse K-5 classrooms.
• Raz-Plus Español An add-on to Raz-Plus that supports equitable instruction in K-5 dual-language classrooms, delivered in Spanish.
• Raz-Kids An independent digital-first K-5 reading tool that boosts student engagement with an extensive library of books and activities to develop active reading strategies and student agency.
• Reading A-Z K-5 resources to support differentiation best practices with high-quality, carefully curated books and resources, enabling teacher-led instruction and boosting student growth in literacy.
• Foundations A-Z A K-5 foundational skills solution built entirely on the Science of Reading that simplifies teachers' instructional planning and delivery of foundational skills instruction and complements any core literacy curriculum.
• Science A-Z A K-6 solution for interactive science instruction with an extensive collection of scaffolded texts, engaging activities, and hands-on experiments that make it easy to incorporate science into the classroom.
• Writing A-Z A flexible, research-based K-5 writing solution built on the latest research and best practices to support instruction in essential composition and grammar skills that are critical to literacy success.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helps K-5 students build vocabulary, spelling, and phonics skills and increase reading comprehension

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cambium Learning GroupcoreOthersLearning A-Z, which operates VocabularySpellingCity and Vocabulary A-Z, is a brand of LAZEL, Inc., a Cambium Learning Group Company. Cambium Learning Group is the parent company providing corporate structure and resources.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IXL Learning: IXL is a K-12 personalized learning platform with deep vocabulary, spelling, and phonics practice offerings — directly competitive with Vocabulary A-Z on teacher-led supplemental literacy instruction and self-serve subscription pricing.
• Lexia Learning: Lexia offers K-12 literacy and reading intervention products that overlap directly with Vocabulary A-Z and Foundations A-Z. Notably, Lexia is also a Cambium Learning Group brand, making it both a sibling and direct internal competitor for district literacy spend.
• Imagine Learning: Imagine Learning provides supplemental K-12 literacy and language instruction (including Imagine Learning English) and competes for the same teacher and district purchasing dollars as Vocabulary A-Z.
• Membean: Membean is a vocabulary instruction platform used in K-12 schools, with adaptive word-list practice closely mirroring Vocabulary A-Z's per-word pedagogical packaging and teacher reporting.
• Vocabulary.com: Vocabulary.com is a vocabulary learning platform combining adaptive practice with rich example sentences, directly comparable to Vocabulary A-Z's per-word content depth and student-facing practice model.
• Flocabulary: Flocabulary delivers K-12 vocabulary and literacy instruction through hip-hop videos and interactive activities, competing in the same teacher-purchase supplemental literacy category with a distinct content format.
• Quizlet: Quizlet is a widely used flashcard and study platform that includes vocabulary and spelling practice for K-12 students, competing for both teacher adoption and student/parent mind-share.

Broad incumbents

• Kahoot!: Kahoot! is a broad K-12 game-based learning platform that includes vocabulary and spelling review activities, competing for the same teacher-led engagement and classroom subscription dollars, though its scope spans all subjects.
• Newsela: Newsela delivers K-12 literacy content with differentiated reading levels and built-in vocabulary supports, offering overlapping instructional value with Vocabulary A-Z at the broader reading-and-vocabulary workflow level.
• BrainPOP: BrainPOP provides K-5 and K-12 educational content across subjects with vocabulary and literacy components, competing for the same school and teacher supplemental-instruction budget, though not specializing in vocabulary practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpellingCity
• Facebookfacebook.com/spellingcity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spellingcity-com-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/explorek12official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VocabularySpellingCity