Rochester School For The Deaf

What Rochester School For The Deaf does

Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1876 that provides bilingual (ASL/English) educational services to deaf and hard-of-hearing children from infancy through age 21. The institution operates as one of eleven state-supported private schools designated under New York State Education Law §4201, established in 1947, which provides stable legislative appropriations. RSD runs an integrated educational platform spanning Early Childhood Programs (infants through preschool), full K-12 academic curriculum with Regents diploma preparation, comprehensive Student Support Services (audiology, speech and communication therapy, counseling, psychology), and Residential Life serving approximately 30% of students who live on campus Sunday through Friday.

The school is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Directors and led by a Superintendent/CEO, with operations spanning Westervelt Hall, Perkins Hall, Lyon Hall, and residential facilities on a campus located at 1545 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY on the Genesee River. RSD operates 101–250 employees across instructional, support, residential, administrative, IT, facilities, and security functions. Its technology infrastructure is intentionally standard and compliance-focused, featuring MacBook Air computers and iPads for all students, Infinite Campus for student information, MySchoolBucks for lunch payments, and strict adherence to NYS Education Law 2-d, FERPA, and COPPA data privacy requirements.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: NYS §4201 legislative appropriations, pass-through state funding via local school districts that select RSD for individual students, federal funding through IDEA and the Child Nutrition Program, and private donations, grants, and endowment income (501(c)(3) status since 1942). The institution maintains a Charity Navigator Four Star Rating and has participated in Gallaudet University's Academic Bowl for 25 consecutive years, while pursuing an active strategic plan (originally developed 2019, revised 2022 with University of Rochester consultants) and recently launching community extensions such as the Rochester Deaf Kitchen food pantry in September 2024.

Name

Rochester School For The Deaf

Legal name

Rochester School for the Deaf

Website

https://rsdeaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rochester School for the Deaf is a 150-year-old 501(c)(3) non-profit providing bilingual ASL/English education and residential services to deaf and hard-of-hearing children from infancy through age 21 on its Rochester, NY campus as one of eleven NYS §4201 state-supported schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education (Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bilingual / Language-Immersion Childcare Centers (EDACAAAI), Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM), Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL)

Keywords

• Deaf education services
• Bilingual ASL education
• Special education programs
• Residential deaf schooling
• Early childhood intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

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, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding (4201 Schools): Appropriation through NYS legislation supporting schools that educate the deaf, blind, and significantly disabled under section §4201 of the NYS Education Law. RSD is a state-supported private school, one of eleven such schools operating under this provision established in 1947.
2. Local School District Funding: State funds that flow through local school districts that determine with parents that RSD is the best choice to meet a student's unique educational needs.
3. Federal Funding: Federal funds in support of the Child Nutrition Program and Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) services.
4. Private Funding and Donations: Private funding including individual gifts and grants for current use, as well as income from endowment. Recognized as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization since 1942.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rochester School for the Deaf delivers bilingual (ASL/English) educational and residential services for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners from infancy through age 21, including Early Childhood Programs, full K-12 academics, Student Support Services (audiology, speech, counseling, psychology), on-campus Residential Life, Athletics, After-School Programs, Lunch Services, and the Signs for All ASL instruction program for families and the community.

Product overview

Rochester School for the Deaf is a state-supported private school under NYS Education Law §4201, founded in 1876, providing bilingual (ASL/English) educational services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students from infancy through age 21. The school operates as a unified platform of integrated services rather than separate modules: Early Childhood Programs (ECC) provides foundational language development for young children; K-12 Programs delivers core academic instruction with Regents diploma preparation; Student Support Services offers audiologist, speech, counseling, and psychology services; Residential Life provides on-campus housing for commuting students; Athletics and After School Programs offer extracurricular activities; Lunch Services manages nutrition through the National Child Nutrition Program; and Signs for All (SFA) provides ASL instruction for families and the community. The school also maintains a comprehensive wellness program, Travel Abroad Program for international cultural exposure, Adventures in Education speaker series, and performing arts productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Programs (ECC) Bilingual early-childhood educational services for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from infancy through preschool age, delivered on the RSD campus and combining ASL and English language development with family support.
• K-12 Programs Comprehensive kindergarten through 12th-grade bilingual (ASL/English) academic curriculum for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including Regents diploma preparation and special-content areas such as art, science, and shop.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including audiology, speech and communication therapy, counseling, psychology, and social-emotional learning support.
• Residential Life On-campus residential living for deaf and hard-of-hearing students aged 5-21 who live too far to commute daily, with supervision from Sunday evening through the end of classes on Friday.
• Athletics School sports program including soccer and volleyball, with regional competitions and homecoming events against other deaf schools.
• After School Programs After-school extracurricular activities including the Wildcat Zone snack bar, clubs, and athletic programs designed for the interests and abilities of all students.
• Lunch Services School meal program participating in the National Child Nutrition Program (NSLP/SBP) that provides daily nutritious lunches to students, with RSD covering meal costs for families who do not qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch and online payment via MySchoolBucks for a la carte items.
• Signs for All (SFA) ASL Classes American Sign Language instruction program offering Levels 1-4 classes for RSD families, siblings, the broader community, and businesses/organizations, delivered both in person at Lyon Hall on the RSD campus and virtually for Family ASL 1 and 2.
• Wellness Policy Program School-wide wellness program covering nutrition education, minimum 20-minute elementary recess, NYS-aligned physical education, and staff wellness initiatives.
• Travel Abroad Program International travel program for RSD juniors and seniors involving two years of preparation including fundraising, cultural learning, and travel experience, delivered in ASL through partnership with Hands on Travel (all-Deaf guides).
• Adventures in Education Annual speaker series for the RSD community featuring deaf role models and advocates, including Marvel actress Lauren Ridloff (2024) and other deaf leaders.
• Theater/Performing Arts Student theatrical and performing arts productions delivered in ASL with voice interpreters, including recent shows such as The Addams Family and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
• Academic Bowl Annual participation in Gallaudet University's Academic Bowl, a national academic competition among deaf schools in which RSD has participated for 25 consecutive years.
• Rochester Deaf Kitchen Campus-based food pantry launched in September 2024 to address food insecurity in the Deaf community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 30% of students reside on campus, demonstrating trust and need for residential services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lauren RidloffminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Acclaimed actor, advocate, and educator who starred as Marvel's first deaf superhero in Eternals. 2024 Adventures in Education speaker. Tony nominated for Children of a Lesser God and regular on The Walking Dead.
• Hands on TravelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravel agency comprised of all Deaf guides specializing in school/college groups and international travel. All tours conducted in American Sign Language for complete access. Partnership supports RSD's Travel Abroad Program, which has included trips to Paris, France and London, England.
• Off-The-Grid MissionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly disaster-response NGO dedicated to providing Deaf and Hard-of-hearing individuals with life-saving resources in high-risk, remote, and disaster-stricken regions. Presented at RSD's Adventures in Education 2023 speaker series.
• Northeastern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the annual Marie Jean Philips ASL Competition providing forum for public recognition of creativity and talent of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RSD students regularly participate and win awards.
• RIT/NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTID is a college within RIT. Collaborative relationship includes Shining the Light on Westervelt Hall photography project, NTID Student Life Team leadership (M. Tim Albert serves as Director), and shared community resources.
• Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de ParisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric school for the deaf in Paris, France where U.S. schools for the deaf have their roots. RSD students visited during Travel Abroad Program, engaging in conversations about deaf culture and education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California School for the Deaf, Fremont: California School for the Deaf at Fremont is a state-supported bilingual ASL/English school serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students from early childhood through 12th grade with residential life. Comparable state-affiliated model with similar program architecture.
• American School for the Deaf: American School for the Deaf in Hartford, CT is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the United States (founded 1817), offering bilingual ASL/English education from early childhood through high school with residential services. Directly comparable to RSD in mission, model, and program scope.
• Maryland School for the Deaf: Maryland School for the Deaf operates multiple campuses (Frederick, Columbia) providing bilingual deaf education from early childhood through high school with residential services. Closely comparable model, scope, and age range to RSD.
• Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf: Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a state-supported bilingual school serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students from early childhood through grade 12, including residential programs. Direct regional peer with similar scale and service mix as RSD.
• St. Joseph School for the Deaf: St. Joseph School for the Deaf in the Bronx is a New York-based Catholic school serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students with bilingual education and family services. Direct peer sharing RSD's metro/regional catchment and programmatic mix.
• California School for the Deaf, Riverside: California School for the Deaf, Riverside serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students from infancy through high school with bilingual instruction and residential services as a state-supported public school. Same core operating model as RSD on the West Coast.
• Learning Center for the Deaf: Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA is a private, state-supported school providing bilingual ASL education, residential programs, and community/family services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students of all ages. Closely comparable scope and revenue model to RSD.
• Cleary School for the Deaf: Cleary School for the Deaf on Long Island is a private NY school providing bilingual ASL/English education and support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Geographic and program-level overlap with RSD, including family ASL outreach.
• New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood): New York School for the Deaf in White Plains/Fanwood is a fellow 4201 School under NYS Education Law §4201, serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students with bilingual education and residential services. Most direct state peer, sharing regulatory and funding framework with RSD.

Emerging players

• Perkins School for the Blind: Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA provides specialized education and residential services for students with visual impairments, and increasingly for students with deafblindness/multiple disabilities. Comparable special-education/specialized school model with similar outreach, ASL, and family engagement programming adjacent to RSD's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RSDeaf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/rsdeafvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/rochesterschoolforthedeaf
• Instagraminstagram.com/rsdwildcats

Compliance5 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 Rochester School For The Deaf