Center Academy

What Center Academy does

Center Academy is a Florida-based, family-operated private school system founded in 1968 by Dr. Mack Hicks, Ph.D., specializing in accredited, college-preparatory education for students in grades 4-12 with learning differences including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, executive functioning challenges, and related conditions. The school operates 12 campuses across Florida (Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Hunters Creek, two Jacksonville locations, Lutz, Maitland, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Riverview, and Waterford Lakes), making it one of the largest dedicated special education networks in the state. The institution holds triple accreditation from Cognia, NIPSA, and the Middle States Association, with diplomas recognized by the Florida Department of Education for college entry. It was once selected by the National Institute of Mental Health for a $325,000 grant to develop learning programs, signaling research-grade credibility in its instructional methodology.

The school's core instructional model is proprietary and refined over more than 55 years, centered on a 'prescriptive learning model' that uses cubicle-style classroom layouts to minimize visual distractions, plus multisensory teaching methods (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) delivered by ESE-trained faculty. Supporting technology infrastructure includes the Gradelink school management platform (parent portal, grades, attendance, communications), FACTS Tuition Management System for billing, and Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia PowerUp Literacy educational software deployed at campuses. The 2026 'Top 10 Special Education Schools in Florida' guide ranks Center Academy as #1 and 'The Gold Standard' for ADHD, High-Functioning Autism, Dyslexia, and Complex Learning Differences.

The business model is tuition-based with annual billing, augmented by Florida state scholarship funding. Families access the school via direct enrollment at any of the 12 campus locations, with rolling admission subject to availability. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer, combining family outreach, online search, review platforms (Yelp, Great Schools, Niche, Private School Review), community referrals, and content marketing through the school's blog and social channels. A material share of tuition is offset for many families via participation in Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA, formerly Gardiner/McKay), and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) through Step Up For Students, making the school dependent on continued state policy support for a significant portion of its revenue base. The organization is privately held by the founding family with no disclosed external investors or institutional ownership.

Name

Center Academy

Legal name

Center Academy

Website

https://centeracademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center Academy is a Florida-based, family-operated private school network founded in 1968, operating 12 campuses that deliver accredited, college-preparatory education for grades 4-12 students with learning differences including ADHD, autism, and dyslexia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Private Schools

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Special education schools
• Private school education
• Learning differences support
• Special needs education
• College preparatory programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pinellas Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Center Academy operates as a private school generating revenue through tuition fees from enrolled students. Families may receive state scholarship funding including FES Scholarship (Family Empowerment Scholarship) and Unique Abilities Scholarship to offset tuition costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Center Academy operates a fully accredited, independent private school network serving students in grades 4-12 with learning differences including ADHD, dyslexia, high-functioning autism, and other learning disabilities. The school delivers college-preparatory education through small class sizes, individualized instruction, and a proprietary prescriptive learning model using cubicle-style classrooms and multisensory teaching methods across 12 Florida campuses.

Product overview

Center Academy operates as a unified special education school network offering a single integrated educational service with multiple campus locations across Florida. The core offering is an accredited, college-preparatory private school program for students with learning differences (grades 4-12), supported by specialized programs for ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and related conditions. Parent access is facilitated through the myCA portal powered by Gradelink, while scholarship programs help families access state funding. The multi-campus structure enables consistent delivery of personalized instruction and small class sizes across all 12 Florida locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Center Academy Private School Education Fully accredited, independent private school providing college-preparatory curriculum for students with learning differences in grades 4-12, with personalized instruction, small class sizes, and structured environments.
• Special Education Programs Specialized educational programs for students with ADHD, dyslexia, high-functioning autism (Asperger's), and other learning disabilities, featuring individualized instruction, IEP/504 plan accommodations, ESE-trained faculty, multisensory teaching methods, and cubicle-style classrooms to minimize distractions.

Quantifiable outcome

• High graduation rates with students gaining self-esteem, personal motivation, and quality education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Step Up For StudentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter Academy is a participating school for Step Up For Students scholarship programs including Florida Tax Credit (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship Educational Options (FES-EO). Families use these scholarships to fund tuition at Center Academy.
• Florida Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter Academy is an approved FES Scholarship School. The school is recognized by FLDOE for college entry. Partner for Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) formerly Gardiner & McKay Scholarship.
• CogniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter Academy holds accreditation from Cognia, a global nonprofit and trusted leader in educational improvement and accreditation services.
• National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter Academy holds accreditation from NIPSA, demonstrating compliance with standards for independent private schools.
• Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSACESS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter Academy holds accreditation from MSACESS, a regional accreditation association recognized for educational excellence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Churchill School: New York City private K-12 school serving students with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Comparable in mission, grade range, individualized multisensory instruction, and college-prep orientation to Center Academy's special-education model.
• The Vanguard School: Private Florida-based school serving students with specific learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism in grades 5-12. Operates in Lake Wales with a small-class, individualized-instruction model that closely mirrors Center Academy's approach, making it the most geographically overlapping direct competitor.
• The New Community School: Richmond, Virginia private school for students in grades 5-12 with diagnosed learning disabilities and ADHD. Operates a similar small-class, individualized model with college-prep curriculum and explicit focus on building self-confidence and executive-function skills in neurodiverse learners.
• The Kildonan School: Amenia, New York private co-ed boarding/day school for students ages 6-18 with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. Comparable in mission (specialized college-prep for dyslexic learners), individualized multisensory instruction, and accreditation footprint to Center Academy.
• The Lab School of Washington: Washington, D.C. private school for students with learning disabilities including dyslexia, ADHD, and executive-function challenges. Operates a multi-campus model (elementary, middle, high school) with intensive individualized instruction, closely paralleling Center Academy's prescriptive, multisensory approach.
• Eagle Hill School: Private K-12 school in Hardwick, Massachusetts (with additional locations) dedicated to students with language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. Closely comparable small-class, individualized model and college-prep mission, with similar accreditation profile.
• The Forman School: Private college-preparatory boarding/day school in Litchfield, Connecticut serving grades 9-12 students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. Comparable in mission (specialized college-prep for neurodiverse learners), accreditations, and small-class methodology.
• The McCarton School: New York City private school for children ages 3-21 with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Comparable specialized methodology, low student-to-teacher ratios, and individualized education plans, though it focuses more narrowly on autism than Center Academy's broader learning-differences scope.
• The Frostig School: Pasadena, California-based private school for students with learning differences including dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. Comparable grade range (1-12), individualized prescriptive instruction, and college-prep mission; significant national presence in the same niche.

Regional players

• Beacon College: Leesburg, Florida-based private college exclusively for students with learning differences, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. Operates in the same Florida geography and serves an overlapping neurodiverse population, but at the post-secondary level rather than K-12, making it an adjacent peer for feeder and brand-overlap analysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/centeracademyschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/centeracademycapecoral/reviews
• Instagraminstagram.com/centeracademy10
• Xx.com/centeracademy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Center Academy