University Preparatory Academy

What University Preparatory Academy does

University Preparatory Academy (UPA) is a public charter school located in San Jose, California, founded in 2007 and operated under a countywide benefit charter granted by the Santa Clara County Office of Education. The school serves approximately 730 students in grades 7-12 from a single campus at 2315 Canoas Garden Avenue, supported by roughly 40 teaching staff and 15 support staff. Its mission is to prepare students to enter and excel in top colleges and universities; the school reports that nearly 99% of graduates matriculate to college, with acceptances at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, USC, and Georgia Tech among others.

The academic program is built on a college-preparatory core supplemented by an Advanced Placement catalog of more than 12 subjects, the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM pathway (engineering and biomedical science), a full performing and visual arts program, and a competitive athletics program in the CIF CCS league. The technology stack is entirely third-party: Schoology LMS, PowerSchool SIS, Naviance for college and career planning, College Board for AP/SAT/PSAT administration, SportsNet for athletics, BoardDocs for board governance, and GoFan/NFHS Network for ticketing and livestream. Differentiated student services include academic counseling, free on-campus mental health counseling, a Learn It peer-tutoring program, the WEB transition program for incoming 7th graders, and dual-enrollment partnerships with local colleges.

UPA's revenue model is a public charter school per-pupil funding structure: the school receives Average Daily Attendance (ADA) allocations from the state and local education agencies as its primary revenue stream, supplemented by grants, parent donations, and PTSO fundraising processed through PayPal and Venmo. No tuition is charged; families pay modest fees for AP exams ($104 standard, $68 reduced), SAT exams ($60, $10 income-eligible), and nominal used-uniform sales. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by Executive Director David Porter, and holds WASC accreditation and the highest possible California Department of Education charter school rating.

Name

University Preparatory Academy

Legal name

University Preparatory Academy

Website

https://upasv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

University Preparatory Academy is a public charter school in San Jose, California, serving approximately 730 students in grades 7-12 on a single campus, with a college-preparatory mission, PLTW STEM pathways, 12+ AP courses, and nearly 99% college matriculation.

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 College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• College preparatory program
• STEM secondary education
• AP course instruction
• Academic counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: Public charter schools receive per-pupil funding from the state based on average daily attendance. This is the primary revenue source.
2. Grants and Donations: School receives grant funding and charitable donations from families and community members to supplement educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

University Preparatory Academy (UPA) is a public charter school providing tuition-free college-preparatory education to approximately 730 students in grades 7-12 in San Jose, California. The school delivers a rigorous academic curriculum including Advanced Placement courses, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM pathways, performing and visual arts, athletics, and 70+ student clubs, supplemented by academic counseling, mental health support, peer tutoring, and dual enrollment opportunities with local colleges.

Product overview

University Preparatory Academy is a college-preparatory charter school serving approximately 730 students in grades 7-12, founded in 2007. The school offers a comprehensive educational program built around its core charter school academic curriculum, supplemented by AP courses, PLTW STEM pathways, performing and visual arts, athletics, and extensive student clubs. Academic support is provided through counseling services, mental health resources, peer tutoring, and dual enrollment opportunities. The program emphasizes college preparation with a mission to prepare students to enter and excel in the nation's top colleges and universities, with nearly 99% of graduates attending college.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charter School Academic Program
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses College-level AP courses across multiple subjects including AP Literature, AP Language, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Biology, AP US History, AP World History, AP Government, AP Psychology, AP Spanish, and AP 2D Art and Design, preparing students for AP exams.
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM Program Project-based STEM curriculum including Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS), Human Body Systems (HBS), Medical Interventions (MI), Gateway to Technology (GTT), and Principles of Engineering (POE), enabling grades 7-12 students to develop critical thinking and technical skills through hands-on engineering and biomedical science coursework.
• Performing Arts Program Comprehensive performing arts offerings including Band (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced levels), Drama classes (grades 7-12), Technical Theatre, and Improv Group, with three mainstage productions annually (Murder Mystery Dinner, Fall Play, Spring Musical) engaging over 100 students.
• Visual Arts Program Visual arts courses spanning Art 7/8, Art 1, Drawing and Painting, 3-Dimensional Design, Multi-Media Arts (Digital Arts), and AP 2D Art and Design, fulfilling UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts requirements.
• Athletics Program Competitive athletics program offering Fall (Volleyball, Cross Country, Flag Football), Winter (Basketball), and Spring (Track & Field, Volleyball) sports, plus year-round Cheerleading, competing in the CIF CCS league at middle school, JV, and varsity levels.
• Student Clubs Program Over 50 student-led clubs and organizations spanning academic (BioOlympiad, Science Olympiad, Hack Club, Robotics), cultural (AAPI, CSA, HSA, VSA, Latin X), service (Interact, Red Cross, Community Champs), and special interest (D&D, GSA, Photography, Yearbook) categories.
• Academic Counseling Services Comprehensive college and career counseling program including academic planning, college preparation, career guidance, Naviance platform access, family workshops, college visits, representative meetings, application support, and one-on-one counseling meetings.
• Mental Health Counseling Free social and emotional health counseling for students provided by school-based therapists and a mental health liaison, including individual and group counseling, crisis referrals, and connection to community resources.
• Dual Enrollment Program Partnership with local colleges allowing UPA students to earn college credits while in high school through dual enrollment courses.
• Learn It Peer Tutoring After-school peer-to-peer tutoring program providing 1:1 tutoring in all subject areas with trained peer tutors available Monday-Thursday afternoons on campus.
• WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) Program Transition support program for incoming 7th graders led by trained 10th-12th grade student leaders who facilitate orientation, academic lessons, and ongoing social events throughout the school year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 99% of students attend college after graduation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NaviancecoreTechnology or IntegrationCollege and career planning platform used by students and families for personalized surveys, college search and comparison tools, college profiles, and scholarship opportunities. UPA's academic counselors support and manage the Naviance platform for all students.
• College BoardcoreTechnology or IntegrationOrganization providing AP exams, SAT, and PSAT testing programs. UPA administers AP exams, PSAT, and SAT on campus as testing center, with College Board setting standards and providing digital testing platforms.
• SportsNet Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationAthletics management platform used for registration, medical clearance, and coordination of sports programs. All student athletes must complete SportsNet registration and medical clearance through this platform.
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM education program providing engineering and biomedical science curriculum pathways. UPA integrates PLTW courses including Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, Gateway to Technology, and Principles of Engineering into their curriculum.
• Learn It TutoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter-school peer-to-peer tutoring program offering 1:1 tutoring in all subject areas. Sessions held on campus with trained peer tutors available Monday-Thursday afternoons.
• Furry FriendsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTherapy dog volunteer organization that brings certified therapy dogs to campus near the end of marking periods as part of student wellness activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS Charter Schools is a national charter network renowned for rigorous college-prep academics and STEM emphasis. Comparable to UPA due to its charter school structure, intense college-prep curriculum, AP-heavy course catalog, and track record of elite college placement similar to UPA's outcomes profile.
• Summit Public Schools: Summit Public Schools is a California-based public charter school network serving grades 6-12 with a college-prep, project-based learning model. Directly comparable to UPA via shared California charter status, college-prep orientation, secondary grade span, and emphasis on personalized learning and dual enrollment.
• Aspire Public Schools: Aspire Public Schools is a Bay Area-based charter school network operating TK-12 public charter schools with a college-preparatory mission across Northern and Central California. Comparable to UPA via the same California charter model, similar college-readiness focus, and overlapping student demographics in the same regional market.
• Downtown College Prep: Downtown College Prep is a Silicon Valley charter school network serving grades 6-12 with a college-prep mission. It is directly comparable to UPA given overlapping Bay Area geography, similar college-prep focus, comparable student demographics, and parallel public charter funding model targeting college-readiness outcomes.
• KIPP Northern California: KIPP Northern California is a regional charter school network operating college-preparatory public schools across the Bay Area. Comparable to UPA via the same California public charter model, college-prep mission, and overlapping recruitment market of Bay Area families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools.

Broad incumbents

• Harker School: Harker School is a private, independent K-12 college-preparatory school in San Jose, California. A broad incumbent comparable to UPA via similar Silicon Valley geography, rigorous college-prep mission, strong STEM offerings, and elite college placement outcomes — though it competes on tuition-funded model rather than public charter funding.
• Bellarmine College Preparatory: Bellarmine is a private Catholic all-boys college preparatory high school in San Jose, California, serving grades 9-12. Comparable to UPA via shared Silicon Valley geography, rigorous college-prep curriculum, AP-heavy catalog, and elite college placement rates — competing for the same high-achieving Bay Area families.
• Archbishop Mitty High School: Archbishop Mitty is a private Catholic college-preparatory high school in San Jose serving grades 9-12. Directly comparable to Bellarmine and competitive with UPA in the San Jose college-prep market via strong AP/STEM offerings and elite college placement, though operating on a tuition-funded private model.
• Valley Christian Schools: Valley Christian Schools is a private K-12 college-preparatory school system based in San Jose, California. Comparable to UPA via shared San Jose/Silicon Valley geography, college-prep mission, and overlap in target families seeking rigorous secondary education — competing for college-aspiring Bay Area students with a tuition-funded private model.
• Castilleja School: Castilleja School is an independent, all-girls college-preparatory school in Palo Alto serving grades 6-12. Comparable to UPA via Bay Area geography, intense college-prep orientation, small-school model, and track record of placing graduates at top universities — competing for the same affluent, college-focused families in the broader Silicon Valley market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/Upaeagleathletics

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 University Preparatory Academy