River Rock Academy
River Rock Academy is a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved provider operating 13 campuses delivering alternative education for disruptive youth and special education services to K-12 students referred by school districts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLancaster, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What River Rock Academy does
River Rock Academy is a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved private provider of alternative and special education services, founded in 2005 by Steve Capoferri and Patti Shatto-Young. The organization operates 13 campuses across Central, South Central, and Eastern Pennsylvania, serving students in grades K-12 referred by their home school districts for behavioral, social-emotional, or specialized academic support. River Rock operates under Salisbury Management LLC (DBA New Story Management), a network of alternative and special education schools that provides shared operational infrastructure including HR, privacy compliance, and administrative services.
The company delivers three core programs: Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) for grades 6-12, Private Academic License Elementary for grades K-6, and Private Academic License Secondary Special Education for grades 7-12. Service delivery rests on a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework with universal screening and a daily behavioral tracking system (TALID), supplemented by individualized SMART goal planning, individual and group counseling, PSSA preparation, and transition planning for reintegration into home districts. The organization licenses third-party educational technology platforms — IXL for adaptive ELA and math, Achieve 3000 for reading intervention, and Second Step for social-emotional learning — alongside a proprietary web-based lesson planning system that enforces curricular consistency across campuses.
Revenue is generated exclusively through placement agreements with Pennsylvania school districts. Students remain enrolled in their home district, with grades and credits transferring back upon stabilization, and all costs are managed via district reimbursement rather than direct parent payment. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, with all student placements sourced from district referrals. No public pricing, no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, and no investor signals were identified; the entity operates as a private subsidiary within the larger New Story network.
River Rock Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- River Rock Academy
- Legal name
- River Rock Academy, Inc.
- Website
- https://riverrockacademy.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- River Rock Academy is a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved provider operating 13 campuses delivering alternative education for disruptive youth and special education services to K-12 students referred by school districts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
River Rock Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative Schools (Behavioral/Disciplinary & Nontraditional Settings) (EDAJAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Juvenile Justice Education Programs (Detention & Correctional Education) (EDAJAEAB)
Keywords
Where River Rock Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
River Rock Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- School District Reimbursement / Placement Fees: River Rock Academy serves students who are referred through their home school districts. Revenue is generated through placement agreements with school districts for Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) programs and Private Academic License programs. Students continue to be students of their home school district, with grades and credits transferring back to the home district.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
River Rock Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
River Rock Academy operates Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved alternative and special education programs for K-12 students placed through public school district referrals. The academy delivers AEDY (Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth) and Private Academic License programs across 13 campuses statewide, integrating academic instruction with counseling, behavioral coaching, and tiered interventions.
Product overview
River Rock Academy is a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved provider of alternative and special education services operating multiple campus locations across Pennsylvania. The organization offers three core educational programs: (1) Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) for grades 6-12, a temporary placement program combining academic instruction with behavioral interventions and counseling; (2) Private Academic License Elementary programs serving grades K-6 (varying by campus) for students requiring additional behavioral support; and (3) Private Academic License Secondary Special Education for grades 7-12. These programs are supported by comprehensive services including individual and group counseling, PSSA preparatory services, recreation programs, community partnerships, and goal planning using SMART goals. The educational technology portfolio includes IXL for personalized ELA and math instruction, Achieve 3000 for reading intervention, and Second Step for social-emotional learning. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework underpins service delivery with three tiers of intervention, while the Safe2Say Something program addresses school safety.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) Program
Quantifiable outcome
- AEDY placements are designed to be temporary with the goal of helping students transition back to their home school district upon stabilization.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use River Rock Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
River Rock Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
River Rock Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Toys for TotsminorRiver Rock Academy's Williamsport campus serves as a collection site for Toys for Tots donations. The partnership also connects students to the Toys for Tots Operation Turn a Page Literacy Program, which has provided book donations to students at the Williamsport campus.
- Pennsylvania Office of Attorney GeneralcoreRiver Rock Academy implements the Safe2Say Something (S2SS) program, part of ACT 44, with direction and support from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. S2SS is designed to help staff and students recognize risk factors and signals of those who may be a threat to themselves or others.
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)minorBradford campus students participated in a community service project with CHOP, helping bag meals for the backpack program which provides food for students in need through their home districts.
- Shores SistersminorBradford campus students partnered with local business Shores Sisters (a nearby store and market) to help prepare for the fall season by unloading shipments of pumpkins and mums, providing community service and vocational experience.
- Lone Oak Horse FarmminorSinking Spring campus runs Horse Farm Fridays, an equine therapy program at Lone Oak Horse Farm that fosters emotional growth, social skills, and resilience while giving students hands-on experiences with horses.
- Cumberland County Penn State Extension OfficeminorNewville elementary students participated in the Chicks in the Classroom curriculum through the Cumberland County Penn State Extension Office, candling eggs in an incubator to learn about the hatching process and life cycles.
- Teaching, Learning, Community (TLC) Fore Reading PAminorSinking Spring campus welcomed a guest speaker from TLC Fore Reading PA, a local organization that encourages students to make positive choices and see each day as a new chance to grow. The organization also helped host a holiday celebration with gifts for students.
- To Write Love on Her ArmsminorRed Lion campus participated in a week-long mental health and suicide prevention program in partnership with To Write Love on Her Arms, where students engaged in honest conversations, reflection, and learned strategies to understand their own mental health.
- Pennsylvania Department of EducationcoreRiver Rock Academy operates as a Pennsylvania Department of Education Approved Licensed Academic School and Private Provider. All AEDY programs are approved by PDE, and the organization maintains licensing for Private Academic programs serving K-12 students.
- Salisbury Management LLC DBA New Story ManagementcoreRiver Rock Academy is operated under Salisbury Management LLC DBA New Story Management, part of a network of special education schools including New Story Schools, Rivermont Schools, Sage Alliance, and others. The parent organization provides shared services, privacy policy, HR systems, and operational infrastructure.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
River Rock Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Catapult Learning: Provider of special education, behavioral health, and tutoring services to K-12 schools, including in-district programs comparable to River Rock's IDS offering. Comparable target customer base (school districts) with overlapping therapeutic and academic support services.
Direct peers
- New Story Schools: Sister brand within the same Salisbury Management / New Story Management network. Operates special education and alternative education schools in Pennsylvania and additional states with overlapping student populations, regulatory frameworks, and shared services.
- Keystone Education Centers: Pennsylvania-based alternative education provider serving adjudicated youth and students with behavioral challenges. Directly comparable geographic footprint, regulatory standing (PA-approved), and target student population.
- Rivermont Schools: Another alternative and special education school brand under the New Story/Salisbury Management network. Directly comparable operating model serving students with behavioral and learning challenges, with similar district-referral revenue structure.
- Ombudsman Educational Services: National alternative education provider serving at-risk high school students through district contracts and charter arrangements. Operates credit recovery and behavioral support programs analogous to River Rock's AEDY offerings.
- Camelot Schools: Multi-state alternative education provider operating AEDY-equivalent programs via district contracts. Directly competes for the same district placement agreements and serves similar disruptive-youth populations.
- Sage Alliance: Sibling brand within the New Story network providing alternative and special education services. Closely comparable service mix, regulatory standing, and student referral mechanics.
Broad incumbents
- National Heritage Academies: Large charter management organization serving K-12 students including at-risk populations across multiple states. Broad incumbent in alternative and non-traditional education, though structured as charter management rather than private licensed academic schools.
- ACCEL Schools: National charter school network operating K-12 online and brick-and-mortar schools serving at-risk and non-traditional learners. Overlaps with River Rock in alternative education and credit recovery, though primarily through charter rather than private licensed academic model.
- Specialized Education Services Inc. (SESI): Large national operator of special education schools and behavioral health programs. Competes with River Rock in private academic and behavioral services at broader scale across multiple states.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
River Rock Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
River Rock Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
River Rock Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
River Rock Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
River Rock Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about River Rock Academy
What does River Rock Academy do?
River Rock Academy operates Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved alternative and special education programs for K-12 students placed through public school district referrals. The academy delivers AEDY (Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth) and Private Academic License programs across 13 campuses statewide, integrating academic instruction with counseling, behavioral coaching, and tiered interventions.
Is River Rock Academy a public or private company?
River Rock Academy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was River Rock Academy founded?
River Rock Academy was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is River Rock Academy based?
River Rock Academy is headquartered in Lancaster, United States, in the North America region.
How does River Rock Academy make money?
One revenue line is on record: school District Reimbursement / Placement Fees.
Who are River Rock Academy's main competitors?
Catapult Learning is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are New Story Schools, Keystone Education Centers, Rivermont Schools, Ombudsman Educational Services, Camelot Schools and Sage Alliance. Broad incumbents are National Heritage Academies, ACCEL Schools and Specialized Education Services Inc. (SESI).
Does River Rock Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for River Rock Academy.
What industry is River Rock Academy in?
River Rock Academy's product category is Alternative Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAEAC, Alternative Schools (Behavioral/Disciplinary & Nontraditional Settings), with a secondary code of EDAJAEAI, Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.