Augsburg Fairview Academy

What Augsburg Fairview Academy does

Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA) is a nonprofit public charter high school operating a single campus at 3109 50th Street East in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded around 2004 with initial grant support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (administered through the University of Minnesota's Center for School Change), the school serves non-traditional students facing educational barriers — including homelessness, trauma, prior school failure, and disengagement from traditional settings — with approximately 40% of its student body identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. AFA is sponsored by Augsburg University and Fairview Health Services and authorized by The Minnesota Guild of Public Charter Schools under a renewal contract running through June 2026.

The school delivers a standard high school diploma pathway augmented by specialized programming: a Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) dual-credit track, an Indigenous Education Program offering Dakota and Ojibwe language and culture courses, Special Education services, Developmental Designs daily advisory, tutoring, an after-school program hosted by AmeriCorps Promise Fellows, and Friday elective classes (including a video game design class and a Girls Inc. partnership covering financial literacy and healthy relationships). Underlying technology is a standard K-12 stack — PowerSchool for SIS, NWEA MAP for assessment, Yondr pouches for device management, and Google Workspace — with no proprietary platform or AI components.

Revenue is generated through Minnesota per-pupil state aid (the dominant funding stream) supplemented by targeted grants, donations, and community support. Education is tuition-free. The school employs 11-50 staff, is governed by a 10-member Board of Directors with a teacher-powered majority, and is led by Executive Director Heidi E. Anderson. Distribution is community-led: enrollment is driven by direct outreach and referral partnerships with YouthLink MN, Hope Street for Homeless Youth, Girls Inc. at the YWCA, the Walk-In Counseling Center, Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association, the Legal Rights Center, and First Universalist Church, reflecting a wraparound service model for at-risk youth rather than a conventional marketing or sales motion.

Name

Augsburg Fairview Academy

Legal name

Augsburg Fairview Academy

Website

https://afa.tc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Augsburg Fairview Academy is a nonprofit public charter high school in Minneapolis, MN serving non-traditional students facing barriers such as homelessness and trauma, offering tuition-free education with trauma-informed instruction, an Indigenous Education Program, and wraparound community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF), Public Alternative, Continuation & Credit-Recovery Schools (EDAJAAAG)

Keywords

• Charter high school
• Public education services
• Alternative secondary education
• Trauma-informed education
• Indigenous education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Aid: As a public charter school authorized under Minnesota Statutes, the school receives per-pupil state aid based on student enrollment. Additional revenue comes from grants, donations, and community support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Augsburg Fairview Academy is a tuition-free public charter high school in Minneapolis that serves non-traditional students facing educational barriers including homelessness, trauma, and previous school failures. The school delivers a comprehensive high school education through small class sizes, trauma-informed culturally responsive instruction, wraparound support services (meals, transportation, mental health, housing referrals), and supplemental programs such as Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) for free college credits, an Indigenous Education Program with Dakota and Ojibwe language instruction, Special Education services, and after-school programming.

Product overview

Augsburg Fairview Academy is a public charter high school offering a single, unified educational program for non-traditional students facing educational and social barriers. The school provides a comprehensive high school education with small class sizes, trauma-informed and culturally responsive instruction, and a teen-friendly, family-friendly atmosphere. Core offerings include standard high school academics supplemented by specialized programs: PSEO college credit options, an Indigenous Education Program with Dakota and Ojibwe language/culture courses, Special Education Services, daily advisory using Developmental Designs, tutoring and academic support, an after-school program hosted by AmeriCorps Promise Fellows, and a College/Career/Community lunch series. The school also offers elective courses and partnered programs like Girls Inc. and video game design. All programs are delivered on-site at the Minneapolis location with transportation support including Metro Transit cards and school van service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charter High School Education
• Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
• Indigenous Education Program
• After School Program
• Girls Inc. Partnership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of students identified as homeless - school provides critical support services

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major, core and foundational.

• Girls Inc. at the YWCA-MinneapolisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2016Offers a Friday class for students covering Financial Literacy, Healthy Sexuality & Resolution, and Prevention. Completers receive free field trips and year-long fitness membership to YWCA-Midtown.
• YouthLink MNmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2016Maintains a table at YouthLink Drop-In Center weekly during summer and twice monthly during school year. Students can complete enrollment applications or schedule tours. YouthLink provides drop-in services, hot meals, showers, GED program, health services, mental health counseling, employment services, and food shelf.
• Augsburg UniversitycoreOthersOne of the school's two authorizers (along with Fairview Health Services). The school is named after Augsburg and was established with initial grant support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through the University of Minnesota's Center for School Change.
• Fairview Health ServicescoreOthersOne of the school's two authorizers. Co-sponsor of Augsburg Fairview Academy alongside Augsburg University.
• Center for School ChangefoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAt the Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota. Administered initial Gates Foundation grant for school establishment.
• First Universalist ChurchmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides resources and volunteers to stock and organize the on-site food shelf and clothing closet. Also provides classroom volunteers and sponsors winter wear drives and other support activities.
• Hope Street for Homeless YouthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutreach worker visits school weekly to support at-risk students in finding safe housing. Provides street outreach, school outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing services.
• The Legal Rights CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth advocate attorneys available for students needing free legal advice. Visits school to provide information about rights within the juvenile justice system. Specializes in restorative justice practices.
• Minnesota Visiting Nurses AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Health Nurses meet individually with pregnant and parenting students for medical advocacy through the Family Health program serving at-risk families.
• Street Law by the MN Justice FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw student volunteers teach fundamental legal rights, responsibilities, and resources to students during the academic year.
• Walk-In Counseling CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff visit regularly to connect students with free, anonymous, and confidential mental health services in the neighborhood for over 45 years.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Harvest Preparatory School: Harvest Prep is a Minneapolis charter school with a child-centered, extended-day model serving a high-need population. It competes for the same alternative-school families in the Twin Cities.
• Metro Deaf School: Metro Deaf School is a small Minneapolis charter school serving a specialized K-8 student population. It is a direct geographic peer with a similar small-scale, specialized charter model in the Twin Cities.
• Hiawatha Academies: Hiawatha Academies is a Minneapolis-based charter school network serving a high-need, racially diverse student population. It is a direct geographic peer operating in the same Minneapolis charter market as AFA.

Broad incumbents

• Uncommon Schools: Uncommon Schools is a large charter management organization operating college-prep schools in underserved communities. It is comparable as a charter operator serving high-need urban populations, though with a more selective admissions approach.
• KIPP Schools: KIPP is one of the largest national charter networks operating many college-prep campuses serving low-income students. While KIPP's model is more selective and college-prep-oriented, it competes for the same charter-authorized per-pupil funding and similar demographics.
• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning operates a national network of alternative schools emphasizing interest-based, real-world learning for students who don't thrive in traditional settings. AFA's small, personalized, trauma-informed approach aligns with Big Picture's design philosophy.
• Diploma Plus: Diploma Plus supports a national network of alternative high schools focused on re-engaging over-age and under-credited youth. It directly parallels AFA's alternative, credit-recovery orientation toward students who have left traditional schools.

Direct peers

• Native American Community Academy (NACA): NACA is a public charter school in Albuquerque serving primarily Indigenous and at-risk students with culturally responsive education and language programs. It directly parallels AFA's combination of alternative education model and Indigenous (Dakota/Ojibwe vs. Diné) cultural program.
• South Bronx Community Charter High School: SBCCS is a small NYC transfer high school serving over-age, under-credited students with wraparound supports. Its mission, scale, and student profile closely match AFA's target population.

Others

• Minnesota Guild of Public Charter Schools: The Minnesota Guild is AFA's charter authorizer and serves as the regulatory and support body for member schools. While not a direct competitor, the Guild's renewal standards and member network directly shape AFA's operating context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AugsburgFairviewAcademy
• Xx.com/afa_mn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Augsburg Fairview Academy