What Seton Education Partners does

Seton Education Partners is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2009 by KIPP Foundation pioneer Scott W. Hamilton and Teach For America alumna Stephanie Saroki de García. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, it operates two school models — public charter schools under the Brilla Schools Network (Bronx, NY) and Brillante Academy (Mission, TX), and independent Catholic schools under Romero Academy (Cincinnati) — to deliver academically excellent, character-rich, and Catholic formation to children in underserved urban communities. The organization's service surface extends beyond schools through the El Camino Catholic faith formation program and the Seton Teaching Fellows one-year missionary fellowship. Its underlying platform is a Blended Learning model combining teacher-led instruction with personalized learning software, developed over a decade through the Catholic Blended Learning Network that grew to 13 schools in 9 cities. Complementary proprietary assets include the El Camino Catechetical Curriculum, which received the imprimatur of Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan in 2020. As of fall 2025, more than 3,500 students began the academic year across 11 schools in 3 cities, with 60+ employees organized under COO/CFO- and Executive-Director-led sub-brand operating units.

Revenue mechanics span four streams: public per-pupil charter funding (Brilla, Brillante), state voucher-supported tuition (Romero Academy, where 100% of students qualify for free tuition), foundation and federal grants (most recently a historic $11.7M federal grant in 2025 for NY/TX charter growth plus a $180,000 Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant), and individual/corporate donations. The go-to-market model is hybrid: community-led through deep diocesan, superintendent, and religious-order partnerships that provide access to schools and families, combined with direct family engagement evidenced by 100% parent-teacher conference attendance three times per year. Seton monetizes not by selling tuition but by securing charter authorization and tuition-free public funding in exchange for whole-child educational outcomes, with philanthropic capital underwriting start-up costs and curriculum development. Verified outcomes include Brilla scholars growing 1.5x the national average in reading and math, a third-highest-in-NY-state performance ranking, 96% Ohio third-grade reading guarantee pass rate, 331+ baptisms and 389+ first communions facilitated by Teaching Fellows, zero Brilla expulsions since founding, and 70%+ of parents reporting child behavior aligned with target virtues.

Name

Seton Education Partners

Legal name

Seton Education Partners

Website

https://setonpartners.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seton Education Partners is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2009 that runs charter schools (Brilla, Brillante) and independent Catholic schools (Romero Academy), delivering whole-child education to underserved urban communities in the Bronx, Cincinnati, and Mission, Texas, supported by El Camino faith formation and Seton Teaching Fellows programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Catholic and Charter School Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC), Charter Montessori/Waldorf/Classical/Expeditionary (Pedagogical Models) (EDAJACAL)

Keywords

• K-8 Catholic education
• Charter school management
• Blended learning instruction
• Faith formation programs
• Teacher fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charter School Public Funding: Public charter schools (Brilla Schools Network, Brillante Academy) receive public dollars through charter school funding model, providing sustainable revenue once start-up dollars are raised. All of Seton's schools are financially sustainable using this model.
2. Donations and Grants: Reliance on charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors. Monthly giving programs, annual gifts, bequests, real estate gifts, charitable remainder trusts, and life insurance gifts accepted. EIN 26-2782492.
3. Foundation Grants: Major grants from health foundations and other funders. Recent $180,000 grant from Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and $11.7M federal grant for charter school growth in New York and Texas.
4. Tuition (Independent Catholic Schools): Independent Catholic schools like Romero Academy charge tuition, though 100% of students qualify for free tuition through state voucher programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Seton Education Partners operates a national network of schools and programs delivering whole-child, classical Catholic and charter education to underserved urban communities. Its core offerings are the Brilla Schools Network public charter schools (The Bronx, NY) and Brillante Academy (Mission, TX), independent Catholic schools under Romero Academy (Cincinnati, OH), the El Camino extended-day Catholic faith formation program, and the Seton Teaching Fellows post-graduate missionary fellowship, all supported by a proprietary blended learning model.

Product overview

Seton Education Partners operates as a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides educational programs through two school models (charter schools and independent Catholic schools) and two programs. The core school models include the Brilla Schools Network (five public charter schools in The Bronx, NY) and Brillante Academy (charter school in Texas), alongside independent Catholic schools under Romero Academy in Cincinnati. Supporting programs include El Camino (after-school Catholic faith formation) and Seton Teaching Fellows (one-year missionary program). Seton also provides free educational resources including Blended Learning Resources and the El Camino Catechesis Curriculum for schools and dioceses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brilla Schools Network: Network of public charter schools providing classically-inspired, whole-child education in The Bronx, NY and Mission, TX
• Romero Academy
• El Camino Network
• Seton Teaching Fellows
• Brillante Academy

Products and services

• Brilla Schools Network A network of public K-8 charter schools in The Bronx, NY providing academically excellent, character-building classical education to children in underserved communities. Free public charter enrollment funded by per-pupil charter dollars.
• Brillante Academy A dual-language charter school in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, modeled after Brilla, providing K-8 classically-inspired education with two-way dual-language immersion for underserved communities.
• Romero Academy An independent PK-8 Catholic school network in Cincinnati, Ohio, forming scholars and saints through partnership with families to develop intellect, heart, and faith. Includes Romero Academy at Resurrection and Romero Academy at Annunciation; tuition supported by state voucher programs (100% of students qualify for free tuition).
• El Camino Network An extended-day Catholic faith formation program providing faith formation, character development, homework help, and enrichment activities to children and families at partner schools and communities, including children who attend public schools but seek Catholic formation.
• Seton Teaching Fellows A one-year post-graduate missionary fellowship for college graduates who spend a bold year loving and serving students in underserved communities while living in intentional community with free housing. Operating in The Bronx, Cincinnati, and Mission, TX.
• Blended Learning Resources & Tools Free resources and tools for implementing blended learning in PK-8 schools, including administrative tools, instructional guides, and implementation frameworks developed through a decade of pioneering in-school work. Available free to any school.
• El Camino Catechesis Curriculum A robust, teacher- and child-friendly K-8 catechetical curriculum based on Saint John Paul II's Catechism of the Catholic Church, aligned to USCCB guidelines, with the official imprimatur of Cardinal Dolan. Available free to any school, diocese, or religious order.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third highest performing school out of all New York state elementary schools serving similar composition of children
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Archdiocese of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardinal Dolan asked Seton to find new ways to evangelize underserved children. Launched Brilla College Prep charter school and El Camino program in response to closure of 60+ Catholic schools in the archdiocese.
• Archdiocese of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan partnership for Catholic education initiatives and blended learning implementation.
• Archdiocese of CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create Romero Academy, assuming management of Resurrection School in Price Hill neighborhood in 2019.
• Archdiocese of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan partnership including St. Malachy Catholic School partnership. Part of blended learning network.
• Archdiocese of San FranciscominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board member Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone. Launched nation's first robust blended learning Catholic school in San Francisco in 2009.
• Archdiocese of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with former Superintendent Dr. Kevin Baxter to implement Seton programs. Includes Resurrection Catholic School, Los Angeles.
• Diocese of ClevelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlended learning partner school in Cleveland. Part of 13-school network serving 3,300+ children.
• Diocese of PatersonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrilla Charter School approved in Paterson, New Jersey for expansion.
• Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund (CISE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to supporting inner-city Catholic schools. Partnered with Seton to create Romero Academy in Cincinnati. President Maria Beatriz Rodriguez serves on Seton's board.
• World Youth AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization partner supporting Seton's mission.
• Divine Mercy UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization partner in Seton's network.
• Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the RenewalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReligious order partner in Seton's network.
• Missionaries of CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReligious order partner in Seton's network.
• Sisters of LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReligious order partner in Seton's network.
• University of Washington's Center on Reinforcing Public Education (CRPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted two-year study on the impact of blended learning on school culture, relationships, and achievement in Seton's Catholic school partners.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Uncommon Schools: Multi-state charter management organization serving predominantly low-income students in the Northeast. Comparable in serving similar demographics, pursuing strong academic outcomes, and operating a centralized CMO structure across multiple regions.
• KIPP Foundation: National charter management organization serving predominantly low-income communities. Seton co-founder Scott W. Hamilton previously led KIPP's growth from 2 to 250+ schools, and the operating playbook (charter schools in underserved urban areas, blended learning, leadership development) is directly comparable.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large NYC-based charter school network consistently ranking among the top-performing public schools in New York state. Directly comparable to Brilla in geography (The Bronx), urban underserved demographics, and high academic outcomes.
• Notre Dame ACE Academies: University-affiliated network supporting urban Catholic PK-8 schools. Seton CEO Aaron Brenner was previously the Pasquinelli Director of Notre Dame ACE Academies, and the mission (sustaining academically excellent, character-rich, faith-based PK-8 schools in underserved communities) is essentially identical to Seton's.
• Cristo Rey Network: National network of 38+ Catholic colleges and high schools serving low-income urban families through work-study models. Highly comparable Catholic K-12 mission in underserved communities, with a similar blend of academic rigor, character formation, and faith identity.
• Great Hearts Academies: Classical, liberal arts charter school network operating across multiple states. Directly comparable to Brilla and Brillante in their shared commitment to a classical, content-rich pedagogy delivered through the public charter vehicle.
• NativityMiguel Network of Schools: Network of Catholic K-8 schools serving low-income families with an extended-day model. Strongly comparable to Seton's El Camino and Romero programs in mission, faith-based identity, and extended-day academic/character formation for underserved youth.
• Achievement First: Northeast charter management organization operating schools in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. Comparable urban charter model with similar college-prep culture, leadership development, and outcomes-focused operating discipline.

Emerging players

• Inner-City Scholarship Fund: New York-based nonprofit providing tuition assistance to low-income students attending Catholic schools. Highly comparable mission of sustaining Catholic education access in urban communities; Seton's CISE partner and an adjacent funding channel for its independent Catholic schools.

Broad incumbents

• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA): Largest professional membership organization for Catholic educators in the U.S. Seton operates within the broader K-12 Catholic education ecosystem that NCEA represents, making it a relevant industry umbrella and potential policy/advocacy counterparty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SetonPartners
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@setonteachingfellows
• Facebookfacebook.com/setonpartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/setonpartners
• Instagraminstagram.com/setonpartners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Seton Education Partners