Spero Academy

What Spero Academy does

Spero Academy is a tuition-free public K-6 charter school operating two campuses in Minnesota (Northeast Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park), serving students with disabilities through individualized educational programming. Founded in 2004, the school operates with a 1:4 educator-to-student ratio and an 11-month academic calendar, differentiating it from traditional public schools through small class sizes and extended learning time. Its core offering is a three-tiered classroom model: Grade Level (GL) classrooms for grade-level instruction (up to 15 students), Personalized Learning Support (PLS) classrooms for intensive special education (up to 8 students), and Academic Support Rooms (ASR) for targeted pull-out intervention (up to 9 students).

The school's programming integrates comprehensive therapeutic and support services delivered on-site, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy (including the iPad-based STACK augmentative communication program), music therapy, dog therapy, and behavioral support through Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) and Social Thinking curriculum. Specialized programs include autism services, the Achieve Program for academic skill-building, developmental adapted physical education (DAPE), and universal school meals. The school holds WCAG 2.0 AA, Section 504, Title II ADA, and Title IX compliance certifications.

The business model is public charter school financing: the school receives per-pupil state and public funding based on enrollment, charges no tuition, and admits students via lottery when applications exceed capacity (open enrollment July 1 through January 31). Governance rests with an independent Board of Directors, with charter authorization held through the University of St. Thomas Charter Authorizing Program. Supplemental philanthropic funding is solicited via GiveMN. Transportation is delivered through a contracted vendor (Contemporary Transportation), and meal services are managed via the Boonli online ordering platform.

Name

Spero Academy

Legal name

Spero Academy

Website

https://spero.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Spero Academy is a tuition-free public K-6 charter school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving students with disabilities across two campuses with a 1:4 educator-to-student ratio, an 11-month calendar, and on-site occupational, physical, speech, and music therapy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education K-6 Charter School

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Special education charter school
• Individualized K-6 education
• Disability-focused schooling
• Therapeutic education services
• Special needs elementary

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: Spero Academy is a publicly-funded charter school receiving state and public funding based on enrollment. The school does not charge tuition. Funding supports educational programming, therapy services, and operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Spero Academy is a tuition-free public K-6 charter school delivering individualized educational programs for students with disabilities across two campuses in Northeast Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school operates an 11-month academic calendar with a 1:4 educator-to-student ratio and supplements core academics with on-site therapeutic services (occupational, physical, and speech therapy), specialized autism support, music and art programs, and a Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) framework. Funding flows through Minnesota's publicly-funded charter school financing system, with no tuition charged to families.

Product overview

Spero Academy is a tuition-free public K-6 charter school with two campuses in Minnesota (Northeast Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park), providing individualized educational programs designed specifically for students with disabilities. The school operates a three-tiered classroom model consisting of Grade Level (GL) classrooms for grade-level instruction, Personalized Learning Support (PLS) classrooms for intensive special education support, and Academic Support Rooms (ASR) for targeted academic intervention. The school supplements its core academic program with comprehensive therapeutic services including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, and specialized autism services using Social Thinking curriculum and PBIS. Additional enrichment programs include music education with board-certified music therapists, art, physical education with DAPE services, and a dedicated Achieve Program for academic skill building. The school provides health services through licensed nurses and operates a school nutrition program with universal meals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-6 Elementary Education Program A tuition-free public charter school offering individualized educational programs for students with disabilities in grades K-6, with small classroom sizes and an 11-month academic calendar. Designed for families of K-6 students with disabilities in Minnesota.
• Grade Level (GL) Classrooms Classroom model where students receive instruction at their designated grade level with individualized accommodations and modifications, serving up to 15 students per class.
• Personalized Learning Support (PLS) Classrooms Classroom model with individualized instruction in academic areas from special education teachers, serving up to 8 students with additional staff support for communication, academic, social, and motor skills.
• Academic Support Rooms (ASR) Pull-out resource classrooms providing additional targeted instruction for core academics in literacy, mathematics, and writing, serving up to 9 students per classroom.
• Special Education Services In-school special education services including physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy provided to qualifying students as determined by their Individual Education Plan (IEP).
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Services Comprehensive autism support services including individualized learning plans, multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches, social skills development using Social Thinking curriculum, and behavioral interventions through PBIS.
• Occupational Therapy School-based occupational therapy services focusing on fine motor skills, visual motor processing, sensory supports, self-care independence, and regulation group interventions.
• Speech and Language Therapy Speech and language therapy including articulation sessions, language skill development, social skills groups, STACK program for augmentative communication using iPads, and collaborative classroom support.
• Physical Therapy Physical therapy services provided to students requiring support with gross motor skills and physical development.
• Music Program Music education and music therapy services including board-certified music therapist services, developmental adapted physical education, and creative expression through music.
• Art Program Art education program with small class sizes emphasizing creativity, art elements, principles of design, art history and appreciation, with lessons adapted to fit students' learning styles.
• Physical Education and DAPE Daily physical education with health curriculum and Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) services focusing on fine and gross motor skills, movement skills, and social development.
• Health Services School health services provided by a licensed school nurse and Health Services Assistants (HSAs) for health office functions, student care, health plans, and crisis response.
• School Nutrition Program School nutrition program providing balanced, nutritious meals including lunch and breakfast, utilizing the Boonli online ordering platform, with universal school meals provided at no cost.
• Achieve Program Academic support program focused on helping students gain confidence and build academic skills through independent task completion, IEP goal work, and daily 30-minute pull-out sessions.
• Behavior Support Behavioral support services utilizing Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) system to establish social culture and individualized behavioral supports.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1:4 educator/student ratio enables individualized attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Contemporary TransportationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpero Academy partners with Contemporary Transportation to provide transportation services to students. The transportation provider handles student transport to and from the school for eligible families.
• University of St. Thomas Charter Authorizing ProgramcoreOthersThe University of St. Thomas Charter Authorizing Program serves as Spero Academy's authorizer, overseeing school governance, evaluating performance, and ensuring accountability. Danielle Miller serves as Program Manager.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is a large national charter management organization operating 90+ schools including special education programs, comparable to Spero as a multi-site charter operator but at vastly greater scale.
• KIPP Minnesota: KIPP Minnesota is the local affiliate of the KIPP national charter network operating tuition-free public charter schools in Minneapolis, comparable to Spero in charter model and Twin Cities footprint but not special-education specialized.
• Imagine Schools: Imagine Schools is a national nonprofit charter management organization operating tuition-free public schools across multiple states, broadly comparable to Spero as a charter operator serving diverse learners including those with special needs.

Direct peers

• Friendship Public Charter School: Friendship is a multi-campus charter network in Washington DC focused on serving students with special needs and at-risk youth, offering therapeutic and individualized services comparable to Spero's integrated therapy model.
• Hiawatha Academies: Hiawatha Academies is a Minneapolis-based charter school network serving K-12 with a culturally inclusive mission, comparable to Spero as a tuition-free Twin Cities public charter serving underserved populations.
• Lionsgate Academy: Lionsgate Academy is a Minnesota charter school designed specifically for students with autism and related disabilities, operating multiple campuses with individualized programming and on-site therapies similar to Spero.
• Beacon Academy: Beacon Academy is a Minneapolis K-8 public charter school with small class sizes and individualized programming, overlapping with Spero's tuition-free, small-classroom, individualized approach in the same metro.
• Vinland Elementary: Vinland Elementary is a Minnesota public charter school dedicated to students with disabilities, serving K-6 with individualized programming and related services — a near-identical operating model to Spero in the same region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/speroacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/speroacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spero-academy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Spero Academy