Smith Academy for Excellence

What Smith Academy for Excellence does

Smith Academy for Excellence (SAFE) is a tuition-free public charter school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded in 2012 by Thomas Smith and Corey Smith. It serves grades K-12 with a coeducational K-6 program and a single-gender boys' program for grades 7-12, operating under a charter issued by Grace Schools Charter Authority. The Leona Group serves as the school's Education Management Organization (EMO), providing operational and administrative support. The school is funded primarily through state and district per-pupil allocations, supplemented by tax-deductible private and corporate donations and annual fundraising events (notably a golf outing at Riverbend Golf Course).

SAFE's core product is its "Three Pillars" educational framework built on Scholarship, Character, and Service, following a Liberal Arts Model aligned with Indiana state graduation requirements. Supplements include college preparation (dual credit courses, college visits, college mentors), Special Education (mainstreaming with co-teaching), an English Language Learners program, a youth mentoring program (grades 6-12), peer mentoring between high school and elementary scholars, and a free meal program via the National School Lunch Program's Community Eligible Provision. Athletics currently include basketball, track and field, and cross country, with football and golf in development. Transportation is provided on Fort Wayne's southeast side.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: enrollment is conducted via online pre-enrollment/re-enrollment forms, and demand is generated through word-of-mouth, local community partnerships, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), and a longstanding presence in southeast Fort Wayne. The technology stack is intentionally lean — Google Classroom is the primary eLearning platform, Canvas supports a few high school classes, Google Forms handles enrollment, and a PowerSchool student information system is "coming soon." Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Leadership is small and founder-led, with School Leader Corey Smith, Assistant School Leader Michael Muter (joined 2021), Athletic Director Gary Merrell (since 2013), co-founders Thomas and Cameron Smith, and a four-person community board.

Name

Smith Academy for Excellence

Legal name

Smith Academy for Excellence

Website

https://fwsafe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Smith Academy for Excellence is a tuition-free Indiana charter school in Fort Wayne serving K-12 students, with a coed K-6 program and a single-gender boys' program for grades 7-12, emphasizing college preparation, character education, and service learning for southeast Fort Wayne families.

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• K-12 education services
• College preparation programs
• Character education
• Tuition-free schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charter School Funding: SAFE operates as a tuition-free public charter school funded through government/school district allocations. The school also accepts private and corporate donations which are tax-deductible, and hosts fundraising events such as golf outings to supplement funding for academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The school accepts tax-deductible donations from private and corporate donors to support programs including dual credits, clubs, college visits, sports, field trips, and internships. Memorial funds have been established for specific purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smith Academy for Excellence (SAFE) is a tuition-free charter school serving grades K-12 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It delivers a coed K-6 program and a single-gender boys program for grades 7-12, built on three pillars of Scholarship, Character, and Service. The school offers college preparation with dual credit courses, free meals, transportation, athletics, and a mentoring program, funded through government charter allocations and tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

Smith Academy for Excellence is a tuition-free charter school offering a unified educational program for grades K-12. The school operates a coed K-6 program and single-gender boys' program for grades 7-12 under Indiana charter school law. The core offering is the Three Pillars Educational Program (Scholarship, Character, and Service), supplemented by specialized programs including College Prep with dual credits, Special Education, and English Language Learners support. Additional offerings include eLearning days using Google Classroom and Canvas, athletic programs (Basketball, Track, Cross Country, with Football and Golf planned), clubs and mentoring programs, meal program, and transportation services. The school serves as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by Grace Schools Charter Authority and managed by The Leona Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charter School Education (K-12)
• College Prep Program
• Special Education Services
• Athletics Program
• Meal Program
• Transportation Services
• Mentoring Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Noah Guntle - 2016 Valedictorian, Jacob Guntle - 2017 Valedictorian

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grace Schools Charter AuthoritycoreOthersThe school's authorizer - Grace Schools Charter Authority grants the charter enabling SAFE to operate as a public charter school. The school is listed under GSCA as its authorizer on the school website.
• The Leona GroupcoreOthersThe Leona Group serves as the school's Education Management Organization (EMO), providing operational support and management services to SAFE.
• Surack Family FoundationminorOthersCommunity partner that has supported SAFE through donations and partnerships.
• Ambassador EnterprisesminorOthersCommunity partner that has donated to or partnered with SAFE.
• Grace CollegeminorOthersPartner institution - co-founder Corey Smith holds degrees from Grace College, and the school is chartered through Grace Schools Charter Authority.
• County Line ChurchminorOthersLocal church partner supporting the school community.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)minorOthersCommunity organization partner with SAFE.
• Neutral Voices Media GroupminorOthersMedia partner that has worked with SAFE.
• STLD-CCIminorOthersCommunity partner organization.
• Do it BestminorOthersCorporate partner that has supported SAFE.
• Out of a JamminorOthersCommunity organization partner.
• Parrish LeasingminorOthersCorporate partner that has donated to or partnered with SAFE.
• LifeWiseminorOthersCommunity organization partner.
• World Baseball AcademyminorOthersYouth baseball organization partner supporting SAFE.
• ProgressiveminorOthersCorporate partner.
• TechPoint YouthminorOthersYouth technology organization partner.
• A HOPE CenterminorOthersCommunity support organization partner.
• The Brandon FoundationminorOthersFoundation partner supporting SAFE.
• Riverbend Golf CourseminorOthersVenue partner hosting SAFE's annual golf outing fundraiser at 7207 St Joe Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46835.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is one of the largest charter school management organizations in the U.S., operating numerous charter schools including in Indiana. Comparable to SAFE as a charter operator with similar college-prep and character curricula.
• GEO Foundation / GEO Academies: GEO Academies operates charter schools in Indiana and other states with a focus on college readiness and character development for underserved communities. Comparable to SAFE in mission, charter model, and Indiana presence.
• BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS Charter Schools is a national charter network known for rigorous college-prep academics. Comparable to SAFE as a charter school operator emphasizing academic excellence and college readiness, though at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Herron Classical Schools: Herron Classical Schools is an Indianapolis-based public charter network emphasizing a classical liberal arts education and character formation. Comparable to SAFE in its use of a structured, values-based curriculum in a charter school format.
• KIPP Indy Public Schools: KIPP Indy operates tuition-free public charter schools in Indianapolis serving underserved communities with a college-prep focus. It is a direct peer to SAFE as another Indiana-based charter school network targeting similar demographics and college-readiness outcomes.
• Christel House Academy: Christel House Academy is a tuition-free public charter school in Indianapolis serving K-12 students from low-income families with a focus on college prep and character development — closely aligned with SAFE's mission and operating model.

Regional players

• Purdue Polytechnic High School: Purdue Polytechnic High School is an Indiana charter network focused on STEM and project-based learning. A regional peer operating under similar Indiana charter law with comparable college-prep orientation.
• Indiana Math and Science Academy: IMSA is a tuition-free public charter school in Indianapolis with a STEM-focused college-prep mission. A regional peer sharing SAFE's charter school model, college preparation emphasis, and Indiana regulatory framework.

Emerging players

• SEED Schools: SEED Schools operate college-preparatory boarding and day schools for underserved youth with a mission similar to SAFE's — combining academic rigor, character development, and service learning for students from at-risk backgrounds.

Others

• The Leona Group: The Leona Group is SAFE's contracted Education Management Organization (EMO) and operates/ manages multiple charter schools across multiple states. Relevant as the management backer and as a benchmark for EMO-managed charter operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fwsafe
• Facebookfacebook.com/fwsafe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smith-academy-for-excellence
• Instagraminstagram.com/smith_academy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Smith Academy for Excellence