The Odyssey Preparatory Academy

What The Odyssey Preparatory Academy does

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy, Inc. (operating as The Odyssey Family of Schools) is an Arizona nonprofit public charter school operator headquartered at 1495 S Verrado Way in Buckeye. It operates five campuses across Buckeye and Goodyear (West Valley Phoenix) educating approximately 3,000 scholars from preschool through twelfth grade, structured as three K-5 elementary campuses (Buckeye/Apache, Sienna Hills, Goodyear), a stand-alone Junior High campus, and a high school campus under the Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies (OIAIS) banner. The charter was granted by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools on January 13, 2009.

The academic core is built on International Baccalaureate programming: OIAIS is an authorized IB World School delivering the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 6-10 since 2013 and the Diploma Programme (DP) for grades 11-12 since January 2015, and is the only Arizona school requiring the full IB MYP for grades 6-10. The high school is Cognia-accredited and the only Arizona school to date to combine full MYP with the DP as the fourth authorized in the state. The curriculum stack is paired with arts programming (theatre, dance, visual arts, music) integrated into IB arts requirements and a college advisement function tied to CollegeBoard and ACT registration. Iliad Preschool and Odyssey Global Academy extend the product vertically (early childhood) and across delivery channels (online). No proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed; technology footprint centers on standard K-12 SaaS (Edupoint/ParentVue, Smore, RSchoolToday, Odyssey Transportation portal).

The business model is non-tuition public charter funding plus philanthropy. Operating revenue is driven by Arizona per-pupil allocations across ~3,000 scholars, supplemented by the Arizona state tax credit program (up to $400/$200 per filer) and a diversified fundraising stack: cookie dough sales, fun runs, Amazon Smile (2-8% of qualifying purchases), Fry's Community Rewards (Organization #80087), and corporate donation tie-ins (American Windshield). Enrollment is direct, first-come first-served via the Edupoint portal with statutory preferences for children of employees, governing board members, and siblings. GTM is community-led: campus tours by appointment, Info Nights, small group sessions, weekly Smore newsletters per campus, and event-driven word-of-mouth through an active parent volunteer base. The charter holder is governed by an independent board, with day-to-day operations led by Co-Directors; no parent company, private equity, or external investor involvement is present.

Name

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy

Legal name

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy, Inc.

Website

https://odyprep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy, Inc. is a nonprofit Arizona public charter school operator running five campuses in Buckeye and Goodyear, educating about 3,000 preschool-through-12th-grade scholars through an authorized IB World School curriculum (MYP and DP). It is funded by state per-pupil allocations and tax-credit donations rather than tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• K-12 public education
• International Baccalaureate
• Preschool education
• Online learning academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Buckeye

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

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: Operates as a public charter school receiving per-pupil state funding. Charter holder is The Odyssey Preparatory Academy, Inc. Additional revenue generated through tax credit donations (Arizona state tax credit program up to $400 for married couples, $200 for single filers) and fundraising activities.
2. Fundraising and Donations: Fundraising includes cookie dough sales, fun runs, Amazon Smile (2-8% of purchases), Fry's Community Rewards, and direct donations. Proceeds subsidize field trips and extracurricular activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Odyssey Preparatory Academy is a nonprofit public charter school providing tuition-free K-12 education to approximately 3,000 scholars across five campuses in Buckeye and Goodyear, Arizona. Its core deliverable is a comprehensive International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum framework featuring the Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10) and Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), supplemented by college preparation, arts, athletics, and character development programs within a Four Pillars educational model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies: Junior high (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) campus offering International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme. Accredited by Cognia and authorized as an IB World School.
• Odyssey Global Academy
• Iliad Pre-School

Products and services

• Odyssey Preparatory Academy Elementary Programs (Buckeye, Goodyear, Sienna Hills) Three elementary school campuses (Buckeye Apache, Goodyear, Sienna Hills) offering kindergarten through fifth/sixth grade education with focus on academic excellence, character development, and cultural awareness. Programs include IB Primary Years Programme preparation and comprehensive curriculum incorporating arts, physical education, and foreign languages.
• Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies (OIAIS) - Junior High Grades 6-8 junior high campus offering full International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). The only school in Arizona requiring full IB MYP for grades 6-10.
• Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies (OIAIS) - High School Cognia-accredited high school (grades 9-12) authorized as IB World School offering Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, with focus on global citizenship and university preparation.
• Iliad Preschool Preschool program for youngest scholars exposing them to academics, foreign languages, art, music, physical education, and making responsible choices.
• Odyssey Global Academy Full online learning option for families seeking remote education within the Odyssey Family of Schools.
• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB program for students aged 11-16 (grades 6-10 at Odyssey) emphasizing practical connections between studies and real world, developing active learners and internationally-minded young people.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) Two-year pre-university program for students aged 16-19 (grades 11-12) recognized by world's leading universities for academic rigor and preparation.
• Theatre Program Comprehensive theatre arts including DP Theatre, Company ensemble, and Will Power program. The Will Power troupe has performed internationally at the Shakespeare Schools Festival in London and across Europe.
• Dance Program Dance education with MYP and DP curriculum, emphasizing choreography and performance as part of the IB arts program.
• Visual Arts Program Four-level progression from Intro 2-D Art through Art IV Portfolio, covering drawing, painting, photography, film, and portfolio development aligned with IB Visual Arts curriculum.
• Music Program Music education including instrument rentals, performances, and integration with IB arts curriculum.
• College Advisement Program Comprehensive college preparation including SAT/ACT registration, application support, scholarship assistance, financial aid guidance, and college tours.
• Athletics Program Athletic programs at OIAIS including various sports with emphasis on sportsmanship and participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average teacher salary increase of 4.1% from 2022 to 2023 ($49,698 vs $47,721)

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Odyssey Institute is an authorized IB World School offering the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). This partnership provides the curriculum framework, assessment standards, and international recognition that differentiates Odyssey from other schools. The school has been IB MYP accredited since 2013 and fully authorized for DP in January 2015.
• CogniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation body providing educational accreditation for The Odyssey Institute High School campus. Cognia accreditation validates educational quality and standards compliance.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOdyssey participates in Amazon Smile program where 2-8% of qualifying purchases are donated to the school. Family, friends, and neighbors can support the school by shopping through Odyssey's special Amazon link.
• Fry's Food StoresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOdyssey participates in Fry's Community Rewards Program. Supporters register their Fry's VIP Card with organization number 80087 to earn rewards for the school based on shopping purchases.
• American WindshieldminorOthersAuto glass replacement company that donates $25 to Odyssey when customers mention 'Odyssey Music' and get cracked windshields replaced with insurance, plus an additional $50 for customer or school.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Cognia: Global education accreditation body that accredits Odyssey Institute High School. Not a competitor; an ecosystem participant that validates Odyssey's quality claims and supports university recognition of its curriculum.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): Curriculum and assessment framework provider that authorizes Odyssey as an IB World School. Strategic ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but critical to Odyssey's differentiated positioning.

Direct peers

• BASIS Charter Schools: Arizona-based K-12 charter network renowned for rigorous academics and STEM focus, operating multiple campuses across the Phoenix metro. Directly comparable to Odyssey as a multi-campus Arizona charter with a strong academic brand and similar parent demographics.
• Great Hearts Academies: A leading Arizona charter network with classical, liberal-arts curriculum across multiple Phoenix-area campuses. Comparable in scale and geography to Odyssey, competing for the same West Valley families seeking rigorous, non-traditional public school options.
• Tempe Preparatory Academy: IB-focused Arizona public charter serving grades 6-12 in Tempe. Closest direct competitor on the IB-credentialing axis, addressing the same demand for rigorous pre-university curricula in the Phoenix metro.
• Gilbert Classical Academy: A-rated Arizona charter school in Gilbert offering a classical liberal arts curriculum with advanced coursework. Comparable charter-school model, A-rated performance, and Phoenix metro geography to Odyssey.
• K12 Inc: National online K-12 learning provider. Comparable to Odyssey's Odyssey Global Academy online offering, competing for digitally-delivered public-school students across Arizona and beyond.

Broad incumbents

• Charter Schools USA: One of the largest U.S. charter management organizations, operating dozens of schools across multiple states. A broad incumbent peer reflecting how a scaled, professionally-managed charter operator is structured and capitalized.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large, high-performing charter network based in New York City known for academic rigor and strong brand. Comparable to Odyssey on outcome-driven brand positioning, though at much larger scale and in a different geography.
• Academica: Florida-based charter school management organization serving schools in multiple states including Arizona. Comparable as a scaled charter operator providing back-office, governance, and operational services to charter networks of Odyssey's profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-odyssey-preparatory-academy-inc

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Odyssey Preparatory Academy