What Coney Island Prep does

Coney Island Prep is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit public charter school network founded in 2009 that operates four campuses spanning Kindergarten through 12th grade and serves over 1,300 scholars. The organization was the first charter school authorized in Community School District 21, with its high school opened in 2013, and has achieved a 100% college acceptance rate for every graduating senior since its first cohort completed studies in 2017. It serves families across 13 Brooklyn neighborhoods including Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Midwood, Seagate, Manhattan Beach, Homecrest, New Utrecht, Dyker Heights, and Prospect Park, with 75% of scholars identified as first-generation college students.

The school's core academic offering rests on a Common Core-aligned curriculum using Amplify Science, Illustrative Math, Zearn, and EngageNY materials, delivered through a longer school day and year with a 5.4:1 staff-to-scholar ratio and two-teacher classrooms at the lower elementary level. Supporting technology includes 1:1 student devices, ParentSquare for family communication, and SchoolMint for online enrollment. Beyond academics, the organization operates a structured PRIDE character development framework, offers 7 AP courses, study abroad programs, after-school enrichment, and special education services, and extends its service surface into college persistence and post-graduate career support through partnerships with Beyond12 (alumni degree tracking and coaching), Braven (career development), Project BASTA (career exploration), and the PRIDE Promise Scholarship program.

Coney Island Prep operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit funded primarily through per-pupil public charter funding from federal, state, and local government sources, supplemented by philanthropic contributions — most notably a $3.5 million grant from Mackenzie Scott in November 2022 — and program-specific sponsorships such as the Charter School Growth Fund and BLAACC-backed CIPlace Teacher Housing Assistance Fellowship. There is no tuition charged to families; the school provides free breakfast, lunch, snacks, and supplies, with families responsible only for backpacks and uniforms. The organization is led by CEO Karen Johnson, COO Dawn Antoine Forbes, CFO Nadine Figaro, and supported by a Board of Trustees chaired by Julie Goran, with operations scaled across four physical campuses plus a centralized administration office in Brooklyn.

Name

Coney Island Prep

Legal name

Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School

Website

https://coneyislandprep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Coney Island Prep is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit public charter school network operating four K-12 campuses serving over 1,300 scholars, achieving 100% college acceptance for graduating seniors while extending alumni support into college persistence and career development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• K-12 charter school education
• College preparatory programs
• Public charter schools
• Teacher development programs
• Alumni college support

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: As a free public charter school, CIP receives per-pupil funding from federal, state, and local government sources based on enrollment.
2. Philanthropic Donations: 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization receiving donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Received $3.5M from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott in 2022.
3. PRIDE Promise Scholarship: Scholarship funded by anonymous donor to support alumni in choosing best-fit selective colleges and persisting at these schools, starting at $3,000 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coney Island Prep is a free public charter school network delivering K-12 college-preparatory education across four Brooklyn campuses, serving over 1,300 scholars. It provides longer school day and year instruction, two-teacher classrooms at the lower elementary level, a 5.4:1 staff-to-student ratio, AP courses, special education services, after-school programming, and cradle-to-college alumni support including the PRIDE Promise Scholarship and Beyond12 communications platform.

Product overview

Coney Island Prep is a free public charter school network serving over 1,300 scholars across four campuses (Lower Elementary K-2, Upper Elementary 3-5, Middle School 6-8, and High School 9-12) in Brooklyn neighborhoods. The network provides a college-preparatory education with rigorous academics, longer school day and year, and comprehensive support services. Core offerings include AP courses, after-school programming, special education services, transportation, and technology (1:1 devices). The network supports scholars through college with PRIDE Promise scholarships and alumni support via Beyond12 communication platform. Teacher development includes the Apprentice Teacher Program (in partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education) and CI Place Fellowship for housing assistance. The school was founded in 2009 and has achieved 100% college acceptance for all graduating seniors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PRIDE Promise Scholarship: A scholarship program funded by an anonymous donor to support eligible Coney Island Prep High School graduates who demonstrate PRIDE throughout high school and matriculate to a four-year college, providing tuition assistance starting at $3,000 annually.
• CI Place Fellowship
• Apprentice Teacher Program

Products and services

• Coney Island Prep Lower Elementary School Free public charter school for grades K-2, serving neighborhoods of Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, and surrounding Brooklyn areas. Features two teachers per classroom for smaller ratios and personalized instruction, with research-backed science of reading approach focusing on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Coney Island Prep Upper Elementary School Free public charter school for grades 3-5 located in Bath Beach, emphasizing critical thinking through Common Core-aligned curriculum with exposure to performing arts electives. Uses EngageNY curriculum paired with Zearn for conceptually-based math instruction.
• Coney Island Prep Middle School Public charter school for grades 6-8 serving Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay neighborhoods since 2009. Features Amplify Science curriculum aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, Illustrative Math, individual laptops for every scholar, special education services, and after-school programming.
• Coney Island Prep High School Four-year college preparatory public charter high school (grades 9-12) founded in 2013 as the first charter school in Community School District 21. Offers 7 AP courses, College and Career Readiness classes, study abroad programs, summer pre-college programs, internships, and 100% college acceptance rate for graduates.
• PRIDE Promise Scholarship Tuition assistance and financial support program for eligible Coney Island Prep High School graduates demonstrating PRIDE values who matriculate to four-year colleges. Funded by anonymous donor with baseline amount of $3,000 annually to support college persistence efforts.
• CI Place Fellowship Two-year teacher housing assistance fellowship providing up to $5,000 monthly housing subsidy ($6,000 annually) to NYC teachers. Selected teachers commit to additional two years at CIPS and receive subsidized master's degrees through Relay Graduate School of Education.
• Apprentice Teacher Program Professional development program supporting recent college graduates pursuing education careers without prior teaching experience or NY state certification. Contingent on acceptance into Relay Graduate School of Education two-year Masters program with full salary, benefits, and tuition assistance.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Beyond12coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023New alumni communication provider replacing GradSnapp. Beyond12 provides communications between CIP alumni and Alumni Team, degree progress tracking, survey administration, and deadline notifications. Also offers near-peer coaching support for alumni navigating college journey.
• BravencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Partnership supporting college students in securing jobs after graduation. First cohort of students engaged in weekly sessions designed to develop skills and professional networks. Supports alumni through career development programs.
• YMCA of Coney IslandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2022Community partnership for annual Coney Island Gives Thanks food drive, distributing Thanksgiving meals to families in need. 10th annual event held in November 2022.
• Urban Neighborhood ServicesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2022Community partnership for annual Coney Island Gives Thanks food drive, working together to provide Thanksgiving food items to families in need.
• Relay Graduate School of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Two-year Masters program allowing Apprentice Teachers to gain classroom experience while receiving professional development. Residents receive Masters in the Art of Teaching degree and New York state certification upon completion.
• Project BASTAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCareer support organization alongside Braven and campus career offices, supporting CIP alumni with career exploration and professional development.
• Dr. Lisa MartinminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOutside consultant engaged to address students' social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs, and implement strategies for trauma-informed practices.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• KIPP NYC: NYC arm of national KIPP charter network operating K-12 college-prep schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx; highly comparable model and outcomes orientation.
• Achievement First: Brooklyn-headquartered charter network serving primarily low-income Black and Brown students in NYC; comparable in mission, scale, and operating geography, with prior CFO overlap at CIP.
• Uncommon Schools: Multi-state charter network with strong NYC presence known for college-prep outcomes; directly comparable in mission, model, and talent pool, with prior overlap via the CIP CEO.
• Democracy Prep Public Schools: NYC charter network with strong college-outcomes orientation and similar student demographics; directly comparable mission and operating model.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: NYC's largest charter school network; several CIP executives (CEO Karen Johnson, COO Dawn Antoine Forbes) previously worked at Success Academy, making it the closest operational and labor-market comparable.
• Brooklyn Prospect Charter School: Independent Brooklyn charter school serving K-12 with a college-prep focus; comparable scale and geography, though operating as a single school rather than a network.
• Ascend Public Charter Schools: Brooklyn-based K-12 charter network serving similar demographics with a college-prep mission; directly comparable in geography, student population, and program structure.
• Explore Schools: NYC charter network serving grades K-8 across Brooklyn with a similar college-prep mission and demographic focus; comparable mid-size charter operator.

Others

• Relay Graduate School of Education: Nonprofit teacher-training institution partnered with CIP on the Apprentice Teacher Program; comparable as an adjacent educational-services organization rather than a competing school operator.
• Charter School Growth Fund: National philanthropic fund that finances high-performing charter networks; not a competing operator but a key funder and ecosystem actor directly investing in CIP programs such as the CIPlace Fellowship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 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 Coney Island Prep