What NEWSTAR does

NEWSTAR International Education (小新星国际教育) is a Changsha-headquartered private education company founded in 1992 (with roots in a 1989 teaching methodology) that delivers English-language and quality-development programs to Chinese children ages 3-15. Its core offer is a tiered curriculum spanning four age segments — Interest Learning (3-6), Guided Learning (6-9), Independent Learning (9-12), and Self-regulated Learning (12-15) — built around the proprietary Fairy Tale Drama Teaching Method (童话剧表演教学法) and supplemented by an integrated digital ecosystem (the Yue Meile / 阅美乐 DHR picture-book platform, a synchronized online learning APP, and an online assessment tool). Adjacent product lines extend into STEM/robotics (Coogertech / 酷哥机器人), creative writing, mathematics, drama performance (Star Junior Shows), and international study tours (Star's Adventure Packs).

The business operates primarily through a franchise (加盟) model: NEWSTAR licenses its brand, curriculum, teaching materials, training, and operational system to independent franchisees (星校长) who run local campuses. As of 2018, the network comprised 3,000+ campuses spread across 300+ Chinese cities, supported by 20,000+ teachers and serving roughly 5 million student visits annually. Revenue mechanics combine franchise/license fees and royalties, recurring tuition (typically billed monthly) collected by franchisees, and short-term seasonal program fees. The company also retains wholly-owned subsidiaries covering software development (Xingcan Software), education consulting, robotics education, and direct-operated training schools in select Changsha districts, while operating without any disclosed institutional funding, public listing, or audited revenue disclosure.

The company's go-to-market blends digital self-serve acquisition (website trial-class booking, campus locator, APP, WeChat) with large-scale annual brand events (the Star-Youth Space satellite campaign, Tencent "Echoing China" award participation) and the local enrollment activity of its 3,000+ franchise campuses. Key 2018 partnerships included RoyalABC (curriculum integration) and TianYi Research Institute (the satellite-launch campaign). No AI/ML-native technology, patents, or proprietary data assets are evident from the available materials.

Name

NEWSTAR

Legal name

长沙市小新星卡通数码科技有限公司

Website

https://newstaredu.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's English Language Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

World Languages & Bilingual/ESL (K–12) Materials (EDAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

General ESL/EFL Coursebooks & Integrated Skills Series (EDAGAHAA), Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

Keywords

• Children's English education
• Early childhood education
• Education franchise network
• English language training
• Youth education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Changshan

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Revenue generated from franchisees (加盟校) who pay fees to use the NEWSTAR brand, curriculum, and operational system. The company provides standardized teaching materials, training, and management support to franchisees across 3,000+ campuses.
2. Tuition / Course Fees: Course fees paid by students/parents for English and other educational programs across age groups (3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-15). Programs include Junior English, SYNC English, Startype English, and specialty courses like robotics and creative writing.
3. Short-term Course Fees: Revenue from seasonal/vacation programs including Amusing English (妙思优学计划), Star's Adventure Packs (星游学), Star Junior Shows (星影秀), and ELES (North American English Language Testing System).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NEWSTAR International Education operates a nationwide franchise network of children's English language training programs serving ages 3-15, built around a proprietary Fairy Tale Drama Teaching Method and a digital curriculum ecosystem (Yue Meile/DHR). The company distributes its brand, curriculum, teaching materials, and operational framework to independent franchisees operating 3,000+ campuses across 300+ Chinese cities, supplemented by an online learning app, assessment platform, and supplementary programs in robotics, creative writing, math, and study tours.

Product overview

NEWSTAR International Education is a comprehensive early childhood education company offering a multi-tiered English language education platform with age-appropriate programs. The portfolio includes core English courses (Junior English, SYNC English, Startype English), specialized programs (Amusing English, Fun Composition, Math), and an integrated English education ecosystem (Yue Meile/DHR featuring DHP, DHR, and picture books). Supporting offerings include maker/robotics education (Coogertech), performing arts (Star Junior Shows), and international study tours (Star's Adventure Packs). The company also provides online learning tools including an assessment platform and mobile learning app. Programs serve children from age 3 through 15, with courses covering listening, speaking, reading, writing, and STEM subjects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 阅美乐 (Yuemeile/DHR): 国际私塾品牌，提供少儿英语阅读绘本及素质培养课程
• 星学习会馆 (SCC星会馆)
• 小新星少儿成长中心
• 阅美乐少儿成长中心
• 酷哥机器人 (Kuge Robot)
• 星蒙学拾

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 500 million people annually (updated from earlier 1,000 million figure)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• 天仪研究院 (TianYi Research Institute)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018NEWSTAR partnered with TianYi Research Institute (天仪研究院), one of China's first commercial space companies, for the NEWSTAR星耀太空 annual campaign. The partnership involved engraving children's names on a satellite, which was launched into space in December 2018. TianYi has successfully launched 8 satellites providing solutions for research institutes, space technology groups, universities, and commercial enterprises. The campaign combined education with space science popularization, aiming to inspire children's curiosity about the unknown world.
• RoyalABC (全球首个英语教育生态系统)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NEWSTAR introduced RoyalABC's global English education ecosystem, described as the world's first English education ecosystem, integrating online and offline resources to help every child realize their full potential. This represents a strategic curriculum partnership to upgrade NEWSTAR's English teaching methodology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• 51Talk (无忧英语): Online English tutoring platform focusing on affordable one-on-one classes for Chinese learners. Comparable to NEWSTAR in subject (English for Chinese learners) and end-user demographic, with a fully digital delivery model.
• HelloKid: Online English education platform for Chinese children pairing foreign teachers with K-12 students. Comparable to NEWSTAR in target end-customer and product (children's English) but operates via online-only delivery rather than physical campuses.
• VIPKid: Online-native platform connecting North American teachers with Chinese children for live English classes. Comparable to NEWSTAR in target customer (Chinese children learning English) but competes via online delivery rather than physical campus franchise.
• Magic Ears (魔力耳朵): Online platform offering 1v4 small-group English classes for Chinese children. Directly relevant as a digital competitor to NEWSTAR's offline franchise model for the same young-learner English segment.

Direct peers

• Wall Street English: International English language school chain operating through company-owned and partner centers. Comparable to NEWSTAR as a branded English-language school network delivering structured curriculum to learners, though more weighted toward adult learners.
• EF Education First: Global private language school operator with a large in-center English training franchise and direct-to-consumer brand. Directly comparable to NEWSTAR as a multi-country language school chain targeting children and adults, with similar franchise/licensed-operator delivery model.
• Disney English (迪士尼英语): Disney-branded children's English training centers that operated in major Chinese cities until closing in 2021. Was a direct comparable to NEWSTAR as a premium branded English training chain for Chinese children, including franchise-style center-based delivery.
• Giraffe English (长颈鹿美语): Long-running children's English franchise operating across Greater China and other Asian markets. The most analogous domestic competitor to NEWSTAR in target customer (young children), franchise delivery model, and proprietary curriculum positioning.

Broad incumbents

• TAL Education Group (Xueersi / 学而思): Major Chinese K-12 tutoring company with strong presence in academic and language subjects. Overlaps with NEWSTAR in children's English and tutoring, but operates at much larger scale across a wider K-12 subject portfolio.
• New Oriental Education & Technology Group: Largest Chinese private education company offering K-12 tutoring, test prep, and language training including Pop Kids (泡泡少儿英语) for children. Competes with NEWSTAR in the K-12 English segment but as part of a much broader education portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries8 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 NEWSTAR