Element Education

What Element Education does

Element Education is a non-profit charter school management organization founded in 2001 and based in San Diego County, California. It operates two publicly funded charter schools: Community Montessori, a TK-8 program serving approximately 750 students across five learning centers, and Dimensions Collaborative School, a TK-12 personalized learning program that holds WASC accreditation. Together the organization serves approximately 1,200 students tuition-free, with operating revenue derived entirely from per-pupil state and federal apportionment under California's charter school funding framework.

The organization's core offering is in-person and home-study K-12 instruction rather than a proprietary technology platform. Its go-to-market is community-driven — relying on word-of-mouth referrals, family information sessions, and local events rather than paid marketing — and it does not charge tuition or list ancillary fee-based revenue streams in the available data. Leadership comprises Executive Director Terri Novacek, COO Roland Yung, and CBO Doug Miller. The organization is a member of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) and the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC), and it implements the Positive Discipline framework as its pedagogical methodology. Recent activity includes the launch of the "Element is Everything" podcast as a brand and content channel.

Name

Element Education

Legal name

Element Education

Website

https://myelement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Element Education is a non-profit founded in 2001 that operates two publicly funded charter schools — Community Montessori (TK-8) and Dimensions Collaborative School (TK-12) — serving approximately 1,200 students across San Diego County, California, free of tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Alternative & At-Risk Schools (Continuation, Credit Recovery, Juvenile) (EDAJACAE)

Keywords

• Public charter schools
• Montessori education
• Personalized learning
• Homeschool support
• TK-12 education

Headquarters

HQ city

Escondido

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: As a non-profit public charter school organization, Element Education receives public funding through per-pupil apportionment from state and federal sources. The schools are tuition-free and publicly funded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Element Education is a non-profit corporation that operates two tuition-free public charter schools in San Diego County: Community Montessori (TK-8, Montessori principles, home study program, ~750 students, five learning centers) and Dimensions Collaborative School (TK-12, personalized learning with project-based activities, home-study, field trips, WASC accredited). The organization enrolls approximately 1,200 students total and is funded through public per-pupil apportionment.

Product overview

Element Education is a non-profit corporation established in 2001 that oversees two distinct charter schools: Community Montessori (implementing Montessori principles for grades TK-8) and Dimensions Collaborative School (a WASC-accredited TK-12 personalized learning model). Supporting these core schools, the organization offers a Meal Program providing free school meals through the CA Universal Meals Program, an Element Is Everything Podcast for educational content, a Volunteer and Intern Program for community engagement, and Vendor Services for managing independent contractors and educational service providers. The organization serves approximately 1,200 students throughout San Diego County across multiple learning centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Montessori A TK-8 tuition-free public charter school serving approximately 750 students across five learning centers throughout San Diego County. Implements Montessori teaching principles and a home study program, fostering independence, creativity, respect for others, and a love of learning. Authorized by the San Diego County Office of Education.
• Dimensions Collaborative School A WASC-accredited TK-12 tuition-free public charter school serving students throughout San Diego County. Features personalized learning styles models, project-based activities, home-study, field trips, clubs, competitions, and global educational travel, with the community and world as the classroom.
• Meal Program A comprehensive student wellness program providing free breakfast and lunch daily to all students through the CA Universal Meals Program, supporting a safe and healthy school environment.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The You SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing resources and programs for students and families. Listed as a community partner on Element Education's giving page.
• Positive Discipline AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing Positive Discipline training and resources integrated into Element Education schools. Both Community Montessori and Dimensions Collaborative implement Positive Discipline principles.
• San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorizing body for both Community Montessori and Dimensions Collaborative School. Provides oversight, resources, and support for charter school operations.
• Charter Schools Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource and support organization for charter schools in California. Listed as community partner providing development support.
• California Charter Schools Association (CCSA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvocacy organization representing California charter schools. Listed as community partner supporting charter school interests.
• WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccrediting body for Dimensions Collaborative School. WASC accreditation validates educational quality and program rigor.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Aspire Public Schools: California-based non-profit charter school network operating TK-12 schools with personalized learning models. Directly comparable as a multi-school California CMO serving similar student populations under public charter funding.
• KIPP Public Schools Northern California: Non-profit charter management organization operating TK-12 college-preparatory schools across California. Comparable as a publicly funded, community-oriented charter network with similar tuition-free model and student demographics.
• Summit Public Schools: California charter school network offering personalized, project-based learning at TK-12. Strongly comparable to Dimensions Collaborative's personalized learning approach and CMO operating model.
• Rocketship Public Schools: National non-profit charter network focused on elementary schools in underserved communities using blended personalized learning. Comparable as a tuition-free public charter CMO with similar community-driven mission.

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Academies: Large for-profit charter management organization operating K-8 schools across multiple states. Comparable as a scaled CMO but operates as a private/managed entity rather than the non-profit public-charter structure Element Education uses.

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elementedusd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ4OGi2vgQHvzSJD_s-Kusw
• Facebookfacebook.com/elementedu
• Instagraminstagram.com/elementeducation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Element Education