High School For Recording Arts

What High School For Recording Arts does

High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) is a public charter school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, founded in 2001 by David Ellis (TC Ellis). It serves at-risk, BIPOC, and creative-industry-oriented youth who have disengaged from or are not served by traditional high schools, offering an alternative pathway to a high school diploma through project-based learning anchored in music production, audio engineering, hip-hop pedagogy, and creative entrepreneurship. The school operates professional recording studios equipped with industry-standard digital audio workstations (Pro Tools, Logic, FL Studio, Ableton) and runs a Student Enterprise model where students produce real music releases, build portfolios, and earn industry certifications. Sub-brands and affiliated programs include Studio 4 / Studio 4 Enterprises (audio production training with CTE pathways), HSRA Online (remote learning option), the Diverse Media Institute (media workforce training), and Tune In Speak Out (a student-produced mental health awareness music initiative).

HSRA is organized as a private nonprofit charter school under Minnesota law, governed by its own Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Tony Simmons. It is publicly funded through per-pupil state aid, federal Title I and program funding, and grants/philanthropy, with no tuition charged to students. The school participates in the National School Lunch Program/Community Eligibility Provision and supplements in-person instruction with third-party online learning platforms (Edmentum, InkWire, Excellence for Education). Distribution is regional (Twin Cities metro) via direct enrollment, community referrals from youth-serving organizations, and an online channel, with community engagement reinforced through monthly Community Breakfasts, alumni spotlights, and earned media (e.g., Minnesota Public Radio's Carbon Sound, Star Tribune).

The business model is best characterized as a publicly funded per-pupil subscription with philanthropic supplementation, generating approximately $1M-$10M in annualized funding based on enrollment at a single-site school of 11-50 staff. Revenue predictability is anchored by Minnesota charter school funding formulas and federal Title I allocations rather than commercial sales, and the organization has no venture capital, private equity, or institutional ownership. Operational scale is intentionally small and mission-focused, with growth expressed through programmatic expansion (Online, Studio 4, DMI, Tune In Speak Out) rather than geographic replication.

Name

High School For Recording Arts

Legal name

High School for Recording Arts

Website

https://hsra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

High School for Recording Arts is a nonprofit public charter school in Saint Paul, Minnesota that provides at-risk and BIPOC youth an alternative path to a high school diploma through project-based learning, music production, audio engineering, and creative entrepreneurship, publicly funded via per-pupil aid and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Education / Charter School

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credit Recovery & Alternative Adult High School (EDAAABAC)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• Alternative high school
• Music production training
• Audio engineering education
• Project-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, HSRA receives per-pupil state education funding based on enrollment
2. Title I and Federal Programs: Federal Title I funding for schools serving low-income students, and other federal education program allocations
3. Grants and Philanthropy: Donations and grant funding from foundations and community supporters

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) is a public charter high school that enables youth to earn a high school diploma through project-based learning integrated with the music business and creative endeavors. The school operates professional recording studios and partners with Studio 4 Enterprises to deliver audio production, beat making, sound design, mixing, live sound engineering training, and industry certifications, supplemented by HSRA Online for remote learners and the Diverse Media Institute for media arts education.

Product overview

HSRA operates as a single unified charter school with multiple integrated educational programs: the core HSRA campus provides project-based learning through music and creative industries; HSRA Online offers remote education; Studio 4 Enterprises delivers specialized audio production and music industry training; the Diverse Media Institute provides media skills; Student Enterprise offers business experience; and Tune In Speak Out is a student-created mental health album project. All programs emphasize culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed practices, and creative expression for underserved youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studio 4 Creative: A creative studio program where students learn audio production, beat making, and music industry skills
• Diverse Media Institute
• Tune In Speak Out
• HSRA Online

Products and services

• High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) On-Campus Diploma Program
• HSRA Online
• Studio 4 / Studio 4 Enterprises Audio Production Program
• Diverse Media Institute (DMI)
• Tune In Speak Out Mental Health Awareness Album

Quantifiable outcome

• Students graduate with both a diploma and industry-relevant portfolio/credentials
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YASS PrizecoreOthers · 1 January 2021YASS Prize awarded HSRA as a STOP-Award Semifinalist in 2021, recognizing the school's innovative approach to education through music and creative arts.
• Diverse Media Institute (DMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI is a partner organization providing media education pathways. Featured in HSRA footer as a collaborator in the learning ecosystem.
• 4LearningminorStrategic or Co-development Partner4Learning is featured as a partner with 'Remix Your School' initiative, supporting educational innovation.
• ReConnect RondominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit collaborating with HSRA on the 'Voices of Rondo' podcast project, preserving community history.
• Good TroubleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit founded by HSRA alumni to help struggling youth through mentorship and educational outreach.
• Minnesota Public Radio (MPR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMPR's Carbon Sound station features HSRA students through on-air interviews and student projects.
• Studio 4 EnterprisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio 4 Enterprises is the companion organization to HSRA providing industry connections, studio facilities, job shadowing, internships, and CTE pathways in music production and audio engineering.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts: Dallas public magnet high school integrating performing/visual arts with academic instruction. Comparable as a publicly funded alternative high school leveraging arts integration for at-risk and creatively driven students.
• Baltimore School for the Arts: Public magnet high school in Baltimore combining college-prep academics with conservatory-style arts training. Directly comparable to HSRA as a publicly funded, arts-integrated secondary school serving diverse student populations.
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA): Public tuition-free arts high school serving grades 9–12 with intensive arts training alongside college-prep academics. Comparable to HSRA as a publicly funded alternative secondary school with arts-integrated curriculum and industry-aligned pathways.
• New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA): Tuition-free regional arts high school providing pre-professional training in creative disciplines alongside academic coursework. Comparable to HSRA in combining arts immersion with a public, tuition-free education model.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: Public magnet high school in Washington, DC integrating rigorous academics with conservatory-style arts training. Highly comparable to HSRA as a publicly funded secondary school that anchors its educational model in creative-industry skill-building.

Emerging players

• Grammy Museum / GRAMMY Camp Programs: Music industry-aligned education programs offering immersive experiences for high school students. Comparable to HSRA's industry-connected music training model, though supplemental/enrichment-focused rather than diploma-granting.
• Berklee City Music: Berklee College of Music's nonprofit program providing music education to underserved youth. Comparable to HSRA in using music education as an engagement mechanism for at-risk youth, though delivered as an after-school enrichment rather than a full diploma pathway.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Public Schools: National nonprofit network of public charter schools serving predominantly low-income communities. Comparable to HSRA as a charter school operator serving at-risk and BIPOC student populations, though broader in mission and far larger in scale.
• Aspire Public Schools: California-based nonprofit charter school network preparing college-ready graduates from low-income communities. Comparable to HSRA as a charter operator serving underserved youth, though broader in mission and significantly larger in scale.

Regional players

• Interlochen Arts Academy: Private boarding high school providing intensive arts training alongside college-prep academics. Comparable to HSRA in arts-integrated secondary education, though tuition-based rather than publicly funded and geographically distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HSRA_MN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HSRAMinnesota
• Facebookfacebook.com/HSRAMN
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsraminnesota

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 High School For Recording Arts