Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

What Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School does

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) adult education institution and the first adult public charter school in the United States, incorporated and operating in Washington, DC since 1998. The school delivers a three-pronged portfolio of foundational literacy (ESL levels Orientation through Advanced, GED in English and Spanish), digital and technology skills (Computer Basics, IC3, Northstar Digital Literacy certifications), and workforce/career credentials (Nurse Aide, IT Fundamentals/CompTIA, Culinary Arts, Bilingual Teaching Assistant, Construction OSHA30, Small Business & Entrepreneurship), complemented by wraparound services such as case management, mental health counseling, job placement, and college advising. It operates two physical campuses — the Harvard Street Campus (Columbia Heights, ~1,750 daily students) and the Sonia Gutierrez Campus (Eckington, LEED Gold, ~600 daily students) — supplemented by a hybrid in-person/virtual learning model (in-person Monday–Wednesday, virtual Thursday–Friday), a 1:1 device lending program, and a Digital Navigator peer-support initiative.

The school's revenue model is structurally different from a typical for-profit operator. Core tuition is free for DC residents; funding is sourced primarily through DC government per-pupil charter appropriations administered via OSSE, supplemented by philanthropic donations (Marriott Foundation is highlighted), and incremental fee-based programs (Community Language Classes, Small Business & Entrepreneurship workshops) that are open to non-DC residents in MD/VA. The organization does not raise venture or growth equity; it has no funding rounds, no parent company, and no shareholders, with governance provided by a Board of Trustees and oversight from the DC Public Charter School Board (Tier 1 adult education rating) and MSA-CESS accreditation. CEO Allison Kokkoros, in role since 2014 after internal progression from ESL teacher, leads a leadership bench that includes a COO (joined 2022 from Academy of Hope), Chief Academic Officer, General Counsel, and a new VP of Advancement (2025).

Customer acquisition is community-led: an online interest list (English/Spanish), word-of-mouth referrals, community-organization partnerships, and a lottery system for oversubscribed Fall semesters. Annual enrollment is approximately 2,500+ adult learners drawn from 73 countries and 27 languages, with a cumulative alumni base of more than 80,000 graduates since inception. The institution explicitly characterizes itself as a "nationally-recognized $30 million dollar organization" in third-party coverage, with revenue almost entirely driven by seat-based public funding tied to DC-resident enrollment eligibility.

Name

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

Legal name

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

Website

https://carlosrosario.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School is a Washington, DC nonprofit adult education institution that provides ESL, GED, digital literacy, and career credentialing programs to 2,500+ adult immigrants annually from 73 countries, operating two campuses with hybrid in-person and virtual learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Language Schools (611630), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

English for Citizenship (ESL/Civics Integrated) (EDAAADAC)

Keywords

• Adult education
• English language learning
• GED preparation
• Career training
• Immigrant education

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (DC): Primary funding from District of Columbia government for serving DC residents with adult education programs
2. Philanthropic Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and foundations supporting strategic priorities including digital divide initiatives, student scholarships, emergency financial assistance, and expansion to MD/VA residents
3. Fee-Based Programs: Some classes with additional fees open to non-DC residents, including Community Language Classes and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Workshop Series

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School provides tuition-free adult education to DC-area immigrant learners, offering English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction from orientation through advanced levels, GED preparation in English and Spanish, U.S. citizenship test preparation, digital literacy courses, and career certification programs in Bilingual Teaching Assistant, Nurse Aide, Culinary Arts, IT Fundamentals, Construction OSHA30, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship. It operates two physical campuses in Washington DC with a hybrid in-person and virtual learning model, complemented by wraparound student support services including case management, counseling, and job placement.

Product overview

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School is an adult education institution offering a unified portfolio of programs centered on English language learning and workforce development. The core offerings include the ESL Program (spanning Orientation through Advanced levels), GED preparation (English and Spanish), Citizenship test preparation, and technology skills courses (Computer Basics 1-2, IC3). Career Training Programs provide certification pathways in Bilingual Teaching Assistant, Nurse Aide, Culinary Arts, IT Fundamentals, Construction OSHA30, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship. Student Support Services complement academic instruction with case management, counseling, employment assistance, and college advising. The school operates two campuses (Harvard Street and Sonia Gutierrez) and serves DC residents with free tuition-funded programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,000+ graduates now working as teachers, health professionals, leaders, and small business owners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026GWHCC held Annual Business Expo where Carlos Rosario School Small Business Program swept the pitch competition and earned Community Partner Recognition.
• RAMW (Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate advisory committee member for culinary arts program, helping keep curriculum relevant to the hospitality industry.
• Marriott Wardman ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate advisory committee member for culinary arts program, providing industry expertise and potential employment opportunities for graduates.
• Sibley HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate advisory committee member for healthcare/Nurse Aide training program, providing industry expertise.
• CITIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate advisory committee member for IT Fundamentals program, providing industry perspective.
• Capital Hotels and SuitesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate advisory committee member supporting career training programs in hospitality sector.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Washington English Center: DC-based nonprofit providing ESL and workplace English programs to adult immigrants in the Washington metro area, with similar target population but more limited workforce credentialing offerings.
• Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School: Adult education charter school in Washington, DC serving adult learners with ESL, GED, and workforce training — the second adult charter school in the city and the most directly comparable competitor to Carlos Rosario.
• Briya Public Charter School: Adult education public charter school in Washington, DC operating a similar two-generation ESL, literacy, and workforce credentialing model serving immigrant and lower-income adult learners.
• Literacy Council of Northern Virginia: Northern Virginia-based nonprofit providing adult ESL, literacy, and citizenship preparation to immigrants in the DMV region, operating as a regional peer in the same adult immigrant education category.

Regional players

• Casa de Maryland: Silver Spring, MD-based immigrant services organization serving the DMV region with ESL, workforce development, legal services, and citizenship help — overlapping on target population and ESL/job training offerings but geographically Maryland-focused.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Large regional social services nonprofit with immigrant services programs including ESL, citizenship preparation, and refugee resettlement in the DC area — broader portfolio but overlapping adult immigrant education offerings.
• LaGuardia Community College Adult & Continuing Education: Large New York City-based adult education program offering ESL, HSE/GED prep, and career training to immigrant adults — comparable adult-immigrant instructional model but at a community college and different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill of Greater Washington: Large regional workforce development nonprofit with adult education, job training, and ESL programs serving DC-area job seekers — broader mission than Carlos Rosario but competes for the same workforce-development funding streams.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): International humanitarian organization with US Programs providing refugee resettlement, ESL, and workforce training across multiple US cities — operates broader scope but with comparable adult refugee/immigrant education offerings.

Others

• CentroNía: DC-based education and social services nonprofit serving immigrant families with early childhood, youth, and adult education programs — adjacent peer serving overlapping immigrant community with both adult and family education services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CR_School
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CarlosRosarioSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/CarlosRosarioSchool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School