Confluence Academies
Confluence Academies is a non-profit public charter school network founded in 2003 that operates five PreK-12 campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, serving more than 3,500 students with career pathways, dual enrollment, and arts-focused programming under Missouri per-pupil state funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Confluence Academies does
Confluence Academies (legal name: Confluence Charter Schools) is a non-profit public charter school network founded in 2003 and headquartered at 319 N. 4th Street, Suite 500 in St. Louis, Missouri. It operates five campuses serving more than 3,500 students from Pre-K through 12th grade: Old North Academy and South City Academy (PreK-8), Aspire Academy (PreK-6, formerly Confluence Academy-Walnut Park), Grand Center Arts Academy (grades 6-12, arts-focused, sponsored by Saint Louis University), and the flagship Confluence Preparatory Academy (grades 9-12, sponsored by University of Missouri-Columbia). The network operates under two Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and is governed by an independent Board of Directors led by CEO Dr. Candice C. Carter-Oliver, with charter authority renewed by the Missouri state board in February 2017 for a five-year term.
Core instructional products span standard K-12 educational technology (Chromebooks, smartboards, online learning platforms via Sqooltools and PowerSchool portals) and specialized programming, including six career pathways (Business, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, Health Sciences, Marketing, Mass Media), dual enrollment agreements with Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis Community College, and Ranken Technical College, AP and Honors courses, the CPA^2 elite college-prep program (Summer Academy at Harris-Stowe, 3.0+ GPA requirement), MOCAP virtual learning, an Esports program (CPA Titans), and comprehensive student-support services including special education, child nutrition, bus transportation (First Student), and an Educators for Gun Safety student-ambassador initiative.
The revenue model is public-charter per-pupil state funding supplemented by federal Title I and ESEA grants, recurring by nature and tuition-free to families. Student acquisition is direct-to-consumer via school tours, community events, partnerships with organizations like Urban League and Black Wall Street 314, and multi-channel marketing (website, social, Mailchimp newsletter, Confluence Conversations podcast, annual Golf Tournament, local earned media). Geographic scope is a single region: the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Confluence Academies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Confluence Academies
- Legal name
- Confluence Charter Schools
- Website
- https://confluenceacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Confluence Academies is a non-profit public charter school network founded in 2003 that operates five PreK-12 campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, serving more than 3,500 students with career pathways, dual enrollment, and arts-focused programming under Missouri per-pupil state funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Confluence Academies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)
Keywords
Where Confluence Academies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Confluence Academies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school network, Confluence Academies receives per-pupil state education funding based on student enrollment. The schools are tuition-free public schools operating under charter agreements with university sponsors.
- Federal and State Education Grants: Schools receive federal Title I funding, ESEA funding, and other state education grants based on eligibility criteria and student demographics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | No-cost public education for all enrolled students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Confluence Academies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Confluence Academies is a non-profit public charter school network operating five campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, providing tuition-free K-12 education from Pre-K through 12th grade. The network delivers standard academic curriculum alongside specialized offerings including six career pathway programs (Business, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, Health Sciences, Marketing, Mass Media), dual enrollment with local colleges, AP/Honors courses, the CPA^2 College Prep Program, arts-focused curriculum at Grand Center Arts Academy, and wraparound services such as special education, child nutrition, and bus transportation.
Product overview
Confluence Academies is a network of four public charter schools serving Pre-K through 12th grade in St. Louis, Missouri. The network operates as a unified educational platform comprising Old North Academy (Pre-K-8), South City Academy (Pre-K-8), Grand Center Arts Academy (6th-12th, arts-focused), and Confluence Preparatory Academy (9th-12th, college prep). The flagship high school, Confluence Preparatory Academy, offers six career pathways (Business, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, Health Sciences, Marketing, Mass Media), dual enrollment programs with Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis Community College, and Ranken Technical College, AP/Honors classes, and the elite CPA^2 College Prep program. The network provides comprehensive support services including special education, student support, child nutrition, bus transportation, and virtual learning options. Grand Center Arts Academy focuses on visual and performing arts, while the elementary academies emphasize early childhood education and balanced literacy. The schools collectively serve over 3,500 students across the St. Louis urban area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CPA^2 College Prep Program: A program designed for high achieving scholars looking to build the proficiency and efficacy needed to obtain post-secondary achievement and to positively impact their life, the community, and the world.
- Educators for Gun Safety
Products and services
- Confluence Charter Schools Network Network of public charter schools in St. Louis, Missouri, serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade across multiple campuses, providing a collaborative educational environment focused on academic excellence and whole-child development.
- Old North Academy A Pre-K through 8th grade campus serving the Old North St. Louis community, part of the Confluence network of schools.
- South City Academy A Pre-K through 8th grade campus serving the South St. Louis community, part of the Confluence network of schools.
- Grand Center Arts Academy (GCAA) A 6th through 12th grade arts-focused campus offering visual and performing arts programs alongside academic curriculum, sponsored by Saint Louis University.
- Confluence Preparatory Academy (CPA) A 9th through 12th grade high school campus offering college preparatory programs, career pathways, and dual enrollment opportunities, serving as the flagship high school of the Confluence network.
- Aspire Academy A Pre-K through 6th grade campus (previously known as Confluence Academy-Walnut Park) in the Confluence network.
- Elite Academy A middle school pilot program serving grades 7-8, housed at Confluence Preparatory Academy.
- Business Pathway A career-focused program equipping students with knowledge in business management, finance, marketing, leadership, and organizational strategy.
- Culinary Arts Pathway A hands-on culinary program preparing students for careers in restaurants, catering, baking, and the hospitality industry through real-world kitchen experience.
- Fashion Design Pathway A creative program teaching design principles, textiles, garment construction, sketching, pattern making, sewing, and fabric selection.
- Health Sciences Pathway A program providing foundation in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, health care ethics, and hands-on training in patient care, vital signs, and first aid.
- Marketing Pathway A program teaching campaign development, market trend analysis, social media management, and customer relationship building.
- Mass Media Pathway A program immersing students in communication, journalism, and digital storytelling across television, radio, print, and online platforms.
- Dual Enrollment Program A program enabling students to simultaneously earn high school and college credits from Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis Community College, and Ranken Technical College.
- CPA^2 College Prep Program An elite college preparation program for high-achieving scholars requiring a 3.0+ GPA, featuring rigorous coursework, extracurricular activities, Summer Academy at Harris-Stowe State University, and 20+ community service hours annually.
- AP & Honors Classes Advanced placement and honors courses in English, environmental science, biology, psychology, chemistry, and government that prepare students for college-level work.
- Esports Program Competitive esports program including the CPA Titans team that placed second in the Overwatch 2 Invitational Tournament.
- MOCAP/Virtual Learning Missouri Course Access and Virtual Learning Program offering online course options for students.
- Special Education Services Comprehensive special education programs and services for students with disabilities across all Confluence campuses.
- Student Support Services Comprehensive student support services including healthcare, counseling, and wraparound services to support the whole child.
- Child Nutrition Program Food service and nutrition programs for students including breakfast, lunch, and community meal initiatives.
- Bus Transportation School bus transportation services for students provided through First Student.
- Educators for Gun Safety Initiative A youth advocacy initiative that received the FOCUS St. Louis 2025 What's Right With the Region Award, empowering student ambassadors to promote gun safety awareness.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than $2M in scholarships earned by CPA scholars at Infinite Scholars Fair
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Confluence Academies
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Confluence Academies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Confluence Academies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Harris-Stowe State UniversitycoreUniversity sponsor for Confluence network; dual enrollment partner allowing students to earn college credit; hosts Summer Academy for CPA^2 College Prep Program; awarded $130,000 in scholarships at 2025 College & Career Fair;唯一的HBCU在圣路易斯
- St. Louis Community CollegecoreDual enrollment partner providing college credit opportunities for high school students to simultaneously earn high school and college credits
- Ranken Technical CollegecoreTechnical college partner for dual enrollment program providing career and technical education pathways
- University of Missouri-ColumbiacoreUniversity sponsor for four Confluence campuses: Old North, South City, Aspire, and Confluence Preparatory academies
- Saint Louis UniversitycoreUniversity sponsor for Grand Center Arts Academy; awarded half-tuition education scholarships
- Kids Feeding KidsminorProgram providing curriculum and hands-on experiences for Family and Consumer Sciences classes across Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois focused on food access and reducing food insecurity
- Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Head StartminorCommunity partner receiving 150 meals prepared by CPA Culinary Arts students for Head Start families
- Black Wall Street 314minorCommunity partner for Educators for Gun Safety student ambassador program; working together on Black Wall Street Festival for economic development in Historic Wellston Loop
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Confluence Academies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KIPP St. Louis: KIPP St. Louis is a non-profit public charter school network serving K-12 students in the same St. Louis urban market. Directly comparable as a multi-campus charter system competing for the same families, per-pupil funding, and university/community partnerships.
- City Garden Montessori: City Garden Montessori is a St. Louis public charter school serving elementary and middle school students. Comparable as a non-profit charter competitor in the same metro area, drawing from the same urban enrollment pool and donor community.
- Lift for Life Academy: Lift for Life Academy is a St. Louis charter school serving grades 6-12 with a college-prep focus. Closely comparable as a tuition-free urban charter offering dual enrollment and college/career readiness programming in the same geography.
Regional players
- Northstar Education Center: Northstar Education Center operates charter schools serving underserved youth in a different but adjacent U.S. metro. Comparable as a non-profit charter operator with similar CTE and postsecondary pathways, useful as a regional benchmark.
Broad incumbents
- National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is a large for-profit charter management organization operating 90+ schools across multiple U.S. states. Comparable as a multi-campus charter operator with standardized operating model and shared services — though for-profit and at much larger scale.
- BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS Charter Schools operates a national network of high-performing public charter schools emphasizing college prep and AP/Honors coursework. Comparable as a charter network whose CPA high school competes on similar academic outcomes and college-readiness branding.
- KIPP (national): KIPP is one of the largest U.S. public charter school networks serving K-12 students in 20+ regions. Comparable as a multi-region charter operator with similar college-prep mission, though KIPP operates at substantially larger scale and national footprint.
Others
- University of Missouri-Columbia College of Education: Confluence's primary university sponsor and academic partner for four campuses. Comparable as an institutional stakeholder that charters and supports Confluence's LEA, providing teacher pipelines and accountability oversight analogous to a charter authorizer.
- Saint Louis University School of Education: Sponsor of Grand Center Arts Academy and a strategic academic partner. Comparable as the second university sponsor providing governance, scholarship access (half-tuition scholarships), and dual-enrollment pathways for Confluence students.
- Ranken Technical College: Ranken Technical College is one of Confluence's dual-enrollment partners providing CTE pathways. Comparable as a technical college ecosystem participant that extends Confluence's career pathway offerings into credential-bearing postsecondary education.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Confluence Academies social profiles
Digital presenceConfluence Academies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Confluence Academies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Confluence Academies subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Confluence Academies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Confluence Academies 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 Confluence Academies
What does Confluence Academies do?
Confluence Academies is a non-profit public charter school network operating five campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, providing tuition-free K-12 education from Pre-K through 12th grade. The network delivers standard academic curriculum alongside specialized offerings including six career pathway programs (Business, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, Health Sciences, Marketing, Mass Media), dual enrollment with local colleges, AP/Honors courses, the CPA^2 College Prep Program, arts-focused curriculum at Grand Center Arts Academy, and wraparound services such as special education, child nutrition, and bus transportation.
Is Confluence Academies a public or private company?
Confluence Academies is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Confluence Academies founded?
Confluence Academies was founded in 2003. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Confluence Academies based?
Confluence Academies is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Confluence Academies make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State Funding is the primary driver. The others are federal and State Education Grants.
Who are Confluence Academies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KIPP St. Louis, City Garden Montessori and Lift for Life Academy. Northstar Education Center is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are National Heritage Academies, BASIS Charter Schools and KIPP (national). Others are University of Missouri-Columbia College of Education, Saint Louis University School of Education and Ranken Technical College.
Does Confluence Academies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Confluence Academies.
What industry is Confluence Academies in?
Confluence Academies's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAK, Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJACAF, Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.