New Roots Charter School
New Roots Charter School is a tuition-free, SUNY-authorized public charter school in Ithaca, NY, serving grades 6-12 through a small-by-design, sustainability-focused model that delivers 100% college acceptance and integrates green workforce programs like EarthForce and YEM.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersIthaca, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What New Roots Charter School does
New Roots Charter School is a tuition-free, SUNY-authorized public charter school in Ithaca, New York, serving students in grades 6-12 (with the middle-school grades 6-8 newly authorized in February 2025). Founded in 2009 by Tina Nilsen-Hodges, the school operates out of the historic Clinton House in downtown Ithaca with a deliberately small enrollment capped at roughly 40 students per grade level, organized into two alternating cohorts to deliver a hybrid in-person and live-streamed instructional model. Its curriculum centers on education for sustainability and social justice, layering standard New York State Regents coursework with proprietary programs such as the Roots of Success environmental literacy curriculum (delivering U.S. Department of Labor Environmental Literacy certification), the Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project, the Farm-to-School program, and the Newts Grocery Store food-access initiative.
Revenue is generated through New York State per-pupil aid, state and federal grants (including NYS DEC and EPA grants via the Teaching Our Cities network), and private philanthropic support (notably a $200,000 anonymous donation during the 2019-2020 probation period and ongoing funding from the Park Foundation and Tompkins County Community Recovery Fund). The school sells no tuition or fees; rather, it monetizes outcomes through enrollment-funded public aid layered with grant-funded workforce-development programs such as EarthForce (green energy, ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, entrepreneurship) and the Youth Entrepreneurship Market (YEM).
The school's GTM is community-led, relying on open houses, family- and partner-hosted information sessions across Tompkins County, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), earned media, and participation in community events such as Rootstock and First Friday Gallery Nights. Distribution is direct enrollment through rolling admissions and an April 1 lottery, drawing students from any New York State district. The school has built a deep ecosystem of partners including Cornell Cooperative Extension, the City of Ithaca, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, which collectively provide internships, mentorship, and real-world learning opportunities that reinforce its differentiation from traditional district schools.
New Roots Charter School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Roots Charter School
- Legal name
- New Roots Charter School
- Website
- https://newrootsschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- New Roots Charter School is a tuition-free, SUNY-authorized public charter school in Ithaca, NY, serving grades 6-12 through a small-by-design, sustainability-focused model that delivers 100% college acceptance and integrates green workforce programs like EarthForce and YEM.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Roots Charter School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ), Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)
Keywords
Where New Roots Charter School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ithaca
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
New Roots Charter School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Aid: Public charter school funding received on a per-pupil basis from New York State, based on enrollment. Charter schools receive public funding calculated per student enrolled.
- Government Grants: Funding from state agencies including NYS Department of Environmental Conservation grants, and federal programs such as EPA grants for Teaching Our Cities network participation.
- Private Donations: Charitable contributions from donors including an anonymous $200,000 pledge and ongoing support from foundations like the Park Foundation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Tuition-free enrollment for all students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
New Roots Charter School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Roots Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-12 in Ithaca, NY, authorized by SUNY. It delivers project-based, community-based education integrating sustainability, environmental literacy, college credit coursework, and green workforce development, with every student earning college credit and accepted to a college of their choice. Supplementary programs include the EarthForce green workforce training program, Youth Entrepreneurship Market, Farm-to-School meals, Newts Grocery Store, and the Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project.
Product overview
New Roots Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-12 in Ithaca, NY. The school operates as a single unified educational institution with a portfolio of integrated programs rather than a traditional product-platform architecture. The core academic program is supplemented by college-level coursework, the EarthForce green workforce development program, the Youth Entrepreneurship Market (YEM) mentorship program, the Roots of Success environmental literacy curriculum, Farm to School and Newts Grocery Store food access programs, the Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project with its Youth Ecological Restoration Corps summer internship, the Rootstock youth music celebration, SOCUE (Students of Color Unity) elective, and various wellness, internship, and community engagement programs. All programs are interconnected through the school's sustainability education framework and mission to prepare students for college, career, and life in a just and sustainable future.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Core Academic Program (Grades 6-12) A tuition-free public charter school offering grades 6-12 education with project-based, community-based learning, sustainability education, and preparation for college and career. Enrolls NYS residents regardless of district.
- College-Level Academics Students earn college credit during high school through partnerships with colleges including TC3 CollegeNow. Every young person is accepted to a college of their choice upon graduation.
- EarthForce Program A sustainable workforce development program for youth that provides skills and knowledge for the green economy in areas such as green energy, ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, and entrepreneurialism.
- Youth Entrepreneurship Market (YEM) A training and mentorship program for aspiring young entrepreneurs that inspires entrepreneurial thinking through hands-on learning, culminating in community markets and vending opportunities on the Ithaca Commons.
- Roots of Success Curriculum Environmental literacy and green careers curriculum developed by Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes, providing students with Environmental Literacy certification from the U.S. Department of Labor and preparation for green economy careers.
- Farm to School Program A food and nutrition program that provides free daily meals featuring locally-sourced produce, teaching students about food choice and sustainability while supporting the local agricultural community at Kestrel Perch Farm at EcoVillage.
- Newts Grocery Store Program A weekly free food access program providing healthy food to students and families, in partnership with the Friendship Donations Network.
- Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project A four-year environmental restoration program inspired by the ecological wisdom of the Cayuga Nation, focused on restoring native wetland species in Cayuga Lake to improve water quality, integrating scientific knowledge with civic engagement.
- Youth Ecological Restoration Corps A summer internship program within the Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project that provides summer employment for young people who learn environmental restoration skills.
- Internships and Work-Based Learning Real-world career skill development opportunities through internships and work-based learning experiences with community partners.
- LEAP Program (Learning + Empowerment = Achieving Potential) A middle school preparatory program serving students ages 12-16 with a focus on academic preparation and personal development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% college acceptance rate for all graduates
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use New Roots Charter School
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
New Roots Charter School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
New Roots Charter School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EarthForce Consortium PartnerscoreGreen workforce development consortium including Cornell Cooperative Extension Energy Warriors Program, Park Foundation, Town of Ithaca, and Tompkins County Community Recovery Fund. The program provides youth with skills and knowledge for green economy careers in energy, ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, and entrepreneurialism.
- Youth Entrepreneurship Market (YEM)coreYEM is a New Roots-founded program designed to empower students to cultivate entrepreneurial mindset through hands-on learning. Partners include Park Foundation, Joint Youth Commission, Downtown Ithaca Alliance, and local entrepreneurs providing mentorship and workshop facilitation.
- 15 Steps (Craft and Jewelry Store)minorLocal Ithaca store featuring student entrepreneur Ayden Githiji's jewelry after seeing her work at Youth Entrepreneurship Market. Provides real-world retail opportunity for young entrepreneurs.
- Downtown Ithaca AllianceminorPartnership for community events including Rootstock festival and Youth Entrepreneurship Market vending opportunities at events on the Ithaca Commons.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Tompkins CountycoreCCE provides Environmental Literacy & Work Readiness Educator who teaches Roots of Success curriculum as adjunct instructor at New Roots. Partnership enables students to receive Environmental Specialist certificate from Federal Department of Labor and college credits through TC3's CollegeNow program.
- City of IthacacorePartnership for green workforce development aligned with City of Ithaca's Green Jobs Corridor initiative. City Director of Sustainability Luis Aguirre-Torres provided letter of support for charter renewal, noting New Roots' emphasis on sustainability, career pathways, and green economy preparation.
- Friendship Donations NetworkminorPartnership to support food availability through the Newts Grocery Store program, providing access to healthy food for students and families.
- Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3)coreRegional green workforce development consortium partner providing college credit pathways for New Roots students through CollegeNow program and green career preparation.
- Ithaca Children's GardenminorPartner venue hosting New Roots graduation ceremonies, providing outdoor space reflecting school's commitment to environmental stewardship.
- Viva Taqueria and Pasta VittominorLocal restaurants that donated food to New Roots' free farm-to-school meal program during COVID-19 restaurant closures.
- The History Center in Tompkins CountyminorPartnership for students to document the impact of the pandemic on the community through personal journals, photojournalism, and interviews with business owners and environmentalists.
- Mutual Aid TompkinsminorStudents in Grade 10 collaborated with Mutual Aid Tompkins to create custom-made media and questionnaires for elderly residents in local nursing homes during pandemic.
- Finger Lakes ReUseminorPartnership for hands-on educational fundraiser where students in Sustainable Entrepreneurship class chose goods to sell at the Alternatives Federal Credit Union Holiday Market, gaining real-world business experience.
- Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & DancecoreCo-producing Rootstock Youth Music Celebration, an annual one-day celebration of youth musicians and performers from around the Finger Lakes region. The partnership showcases youth creativity and entrepreneurship through music, dance, art, and the Youth Entrepreneurship Market.
- Teaching Our Cities NetworkcoreNew Roots is one of five schools in the Teaching Our Cities network of high schools making the community their classroom with focus on environmental stewardship and social justice. Partner schools include Boston Green Academy, Common Ground (CT), The Greene School (RI), and Connecticut River Academy (CT). The network develops a cohesive four-year sequence integrating mission-driven fieldwork and projects with college and career preparation.
- Cornell University (Liberty Bailey Hortorium Herbarium)minorAlumna Rosy Glos arranged internship through New Roots science teacher David Streib with local botanist and Cornell herbarium, leading to Merrill Presidential Scholar recognition.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
New Roots Charter School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Green School Bali: Sustainability-focused private school with a learner-led, green-economy curriculum. Thematically adjacent to New Roots' sustainability mission but operates as a tuition-based private international school rather than a public charter.
Direct peers
- The Greene School: Rhode Island charter high school and Teaching Our Cities network partner with an environmental justice and sustainability curriculum comparable to New Roots.
- Boston Green Academy: Boston public high school and fellow member of the Teaching Our Cities network, focused on environmental stewardship, social justice, and project-based learning — the closest direct model peer to New Roots.
- Common Ground High School: New Haven public charter high school and Teaching Our Cities network member with an environmental stewardship and urban farming focus that closely parallels New Roots' model.
- Connecticut River Academy: Connecticut public charter high school and Teaching Our Cities network member applying a community-as-classroom model with sustainability and social-justice emphasis, mirroring New Roots' approach.
Broad incumbents
- Green Dot Public Schools: Large national charter management organization operating public schools with a college-prep mission; overlaps with New Roots on charter-driven, college-readiness secondary education at much greater scale.
- KIPP Public Schools: One of the largest U.S. public charter networks, focused on college-prep outcomes for underserved students; comparable in mission (college readiness) and charter-authorized operating model, though much larger and less sustainability-focused.
- Success Academy Charter Schools: Large NYC-based charter network with strong college-prep outcomes; comparable in charter authorization model, college-readiness outcomes, and per-pupil public funding structure to New Roots.
- Uncommon Schools: Multi-state charter management organization operating college-prep public schools in the Northeast; comparable charter-based, college-readiness model to New Roots at a substantially greater scale.
Regional players
- Ithaca City School District: The traditional public K-12 district serving the same Ithaca geography; competes for the same local families and student pool, providing the district-level alternative to New Roots' charter model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
New Roots Charter School social profiles
Digital presenceNew Roots Charter School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
New Roots Charter School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Roots Charter School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
New Roots Charter School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Roots Charter School 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 New Roots Charter School
What does New Roots Charter School do?
New Roots Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-12 in Ithaca, NY, authorized by SUNY. It delivers project-based, community-based education integrating sustainability, environmental literacy, college credit coursework, and green workforce development, with every student earning college credit and accepted to a college of their choice. Supplementary programs include the EarthForce green workforce training program, Youth Entrepreneurship Market, Farm-to-School meals, Newts Grocery Store, and the Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project.
Is New Roots Charter School a public or private company?
New Roots Charter School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was New Roots Charter School founded?
New Roots Charter School was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is New Roots Charter School based?
New Roots Charter School is headquartered in Ithaca, United States, in the North America region.
How does New Roots Charter School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State Aid is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and private Donations.
Who are New Roots Charter School's main competitors?
Green School Bali is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are The Greene School, Boston Green Academy, Common Ground High School and Connecticut River Academy. Broad incumbents are Green Dot Public Schools, KIPP Public Schools, Success Academy Charter Schools and Uncommon Schools. Ithaca City School District is listed as a regional player.
Does New Roots Charter School have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Roots Charter School.
What industry is New Roots Charter School in?
New Roots Charter School's product category is Public Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAB, Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site), with a secondary code of EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.