Aurora School
Aurora School is a nonprofit TK-8 progressive independent school in Oakland, California, founded in 1988, serving roughly 140-150 students with a 1:8 teacher-student ratio, multi-age classrooms, and social-emotional learning, funded primarily through tuition, flexible tuition assistance, and an annual auction.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aurora School does
Aurora School is a nonprofit, TK-8 independent private school located in Oakland's Upper Rockridge neighborhood, founded in 1988 and operating with approximately 38 faculty and staff. The school delivers a progressive, multi-age classroom model spanning transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, with a codified emphasis on social-emotional learning, an anti-bias curriculum, and student-led conferences rather than standardized high-stakes assessment.
The instructional offering is built around a deliberate 1:8 teacher-student ratio, multi-grade classrooms (e.g., K/1, 2/3, 4/5), and enrichment programming including art, woodshop, Spanish, music, band, library, and mindful movement. Ancillary services include extended care, summer camps, and enrichment classes, while community engagement is anchored by an annual spring auction.
The business model is tuition-driven, with published rates from $31,895 to $42,622 depending on grade level and program, supplemented by extended care, summer and enrichment fees, and auction proceeds. Approximately 40% of students receive flexible tuition assistance, and the school allocates roughly 33% of revenue to that aid pool, indicating a meaningful access-and-diversity strategy alongside full-pay enrollment. The institution operates as a 501(c)-style nonprofit dependent on tuition, philanthropy, and community fundraising rather than equity capital.
Aurora School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aurora School
- Legal name
- Aurora School
- Website
- https://auroraschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aurora School is a nonprofit TK-8 progressive independent school in Oakland, California, founded in 1988, serving roughly 140-150 students with a 1:8 teacher-student ratio, multi-age classrooms, and social-emotional learning, funded primarily through tuition, flexible tuition assistance, and an annual auction.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aurora School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent K-8 Private Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)
Keywords
Where Aurora School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aurora School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition: Primary revenue from tuition fees for Transitional Kindergarten ($31,895), Grades K-5 ($38,944), and Grades 6-8 ($42,622) for the 2026-27 school year.
- Flexible Tuition Program: 33% of Aurora's revenue supports flexible tuition, demonstrating a commitment to economic diversity. Approximately 40% of students receive flexible tuition assistance.
- Extended Care Services: Before and after school care services charged at $15/hour drop-in or $525/month unlimited plan.
- Summer Camps: Summer camp programs including Theater Arts Camp ($2,725), Creators & Explorers ($440-$550), and TechKnowHow LEGO camps ($450-$560 per week).
- Enrichment Classes: Afterschool enrichment classes including woodshop, circus arts, mural painting, culinary arts, ceramics ranging from $150-$475 per session.
- Annual Auction Fundraiser: Spring auction serves as major fundraiser supporting classroom equipment, professional development, specialist classes, and tuition support. Ticket sales at $130 per person.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Transitional Kindergarten tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Grades K-5 tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Middle School Grades 6-8 tuition |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Extended Care hourly drop-in |
| Subscription | Monthly | Extended Care unlimited monthly |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School Break Camp daily rate |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Theater Arts Camp 4.5-week session |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Creators & Explorers Camp |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TechKnowHow LEGO Camps |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Enrichment Classes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Aurora School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aurora School delivers a TK-8 progressive independent school education in Oakland, anchored by multi-grade looping classrooms (K/1, 2/3, 4/5) and a Middle School built on Academic Quests, Learning Excursions, Advisory, Outdoor Education, and Life Skills & Leadership. The school integrates social-emotional learning, specialist classes, and anti-racist curriculum throughout, with supplemental fee-based Extended Care, Enrichment, School Break, and Summer Camp programs. A new Transitional Kindergarten in partnership with Mills College Children's School will launch Fall 2026.
Product overview
Aurora School is a TK-8 independent private school in Oakland's Upper Rockridge neighborhood, established in 1988. The school offers a progressive education model emphasizing academic excellence, social-emotional learning, and social justice. The core educational program consists of Lower School (Transitional Kindergarten through 5th grade) with multi-grade classrooms and specialist classes, and Middle School (grades 6-8) built on five pillars: Academic Quests, Learning Excursions, Advisory, Outdoor Education, and Life Skills & Leadership. Extended offerings include Extended Care, Summer Camps (Theater Arts, Creators & Explorers, LEGO & Engineering), School Break Camps, and Enrichment Classes in art, woodworking, circus arts, culinary arts, and sports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lower School (TK-5) Tuition-based progressive day school program for Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 5 featuring multi-grade looping classrooms, integrated social-emotional learning, and specialist instruction in art, music, library, woodshop, yoga, PE, and Spanish for Bay Area families.
- Middle School (Grades 6-8) Tuition-based progressive day school program for Grades 6-8 built on five pillars: Academic Quests (humanities and STEM projects), Learning Excursions (thrice-monthly experiential trips), Advisory, multi-day Outdoor Education wilderness adventures, and Life Skills & Leadership development.
- Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program New tuition-based TK program launching Fall 2026 in partnership with Mills College Children's School, staffed by MCCS-trained teachers and featuring a relationship-driven, play-based early childhood curriculum for 4-year-olds.
- Extended Care Before- and after-school care program offered hourly at $15/hour (drop-in) or $525/month unlimited, available to enrolled Aurora School families seeking wraparound coverage.
- Summer Camps Summer camp programs including the 4.5-week Theater Arts Camp ($2,725), Creators & Explorers ($440-$550/week), and TechKnowHow LEGO & Engineering Camps ($450-$560/week) for Grades K-6.
- School Break Camps Themed care camps offered during February and Spring school breaks at $105/day early registration or $135/day standard, with rotating themes such as Circus of Stars and Mystical Creatures.
- Enrichment Classes Optional afterschool enrichment classes in woodshop, circus arts, mural painting, culinary arts, ceramics, and similar disciplines, priced $150-$475 per 7-8 week session for enrolled and prospective students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of 2024 graduates accepted at first-choice high schools
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Aurora School
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Aurora School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Aurora School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Mills College Children's School (MCCS)coreAurora School has entered a partnership with Mills College Children's School (MCCS) to bring their Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program to Aurora's campus in Fall 2026. This collaboration combines Aurora's K-8 infrastructure with MCCS's 100 years of early childhood expertise. The TK program will be staffed by MCCS-trained teachers and will feature a relationship-driven, play-based curriculum. This partnership was covered by Parents Press, OaklandSide, The Rockridge News, and Hoodline.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Aurora School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Acorn Woodland Elementary (OUSD): Oakland public elementary school where Aurora's 4/5 lead teacher previously worked. Represents the public-school alternative that Aurora's flexible tuition program is designed to compete against for Oakland families.
Direct peers
- The Athenian School: Danville-based independent school feeding from East Bay middle schools. Mentioned as a top high school placement destination for Aurora 2024 graduates and as a previous employer of Aurora's Admissions Director.
- Head-Royce School: Oakland-based K-12 independent school with a long-established reputation and larger scale. Competes for the same Oakland families willing to pay premium tuition, though it offers a broader K-12 path.
- Bentley School: Oakland/Lamorinda independent K-12 school identified as a top high school destination for Aurora graduates. Competes for feeder families and represents the downstream option Aurora positions its middle schoolers toward.
- Beacon Day School: California independent school where Aurora's lower school math teacher previously taught for 9 years. Comparable private K-8 progressive model in the broader California market.
- Crowden School: Berkeley-based independent K-8 school with a strong arts and academic integration focus. Comparable size and East Bay geography, competing for similar middle-income progressive families.
- Prospect Sierra School: East Bay independent K-8 school in El Cerrito emphasizing progressive education and social-emotional learning. Competes for East Bay families seeking an alternative to public schools.
- Park Day School: Oakland progressive independent K-8 school with a similar social-justice orientation and project-based learning model. Direct competitor in the same Oakland catchment for families seeking progressive K-8 education.
- The Berkeley School: East Bay progressive independent K-8 school in Berkeley emphasizing social-emotional learning and multi-age classrooms. Direct competitor for Oakland/Berkeley families seeking the same pedagogical model, and a known employer of Aurora's Learning Resources specialist.
- Redwood Day School: Oakland-based independent K-8 school with a progressive, social-justice-centered mission similar to Aurora's. Direct competitor in the same Oakland enrollment market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aurora School social profiles
Digital presenceAurora School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Aurora School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aurora School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Aurora School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aurora School 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 Aurora School
What does Aurora School do?
Aurora School delivers a TK-8 progressive independent school education in Oakland, anchored by multi-grade looping classrooms (K/1, 2/3, 4/5) and a Middle School built on Academic Quests, Learning Excursions, Advisory, Outdoor Education, and Life Skills & Leadership. The school integrates social-emotional learning, specialist classes, and anti-racist curriculum throughout, with supplemental fee-based Extended Care, Enrichment, School Break, and Summer Camp programs. A new Transitional Kindergarten in partnership with Mills College Children's School will launch Fall 2026.
Is Aurora School a public or private company?
Aurora School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Aurora School founded?
Aurora School was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aurora School based?
Aurora School is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aurora School make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are flexible Tuition Program, extended Care Services, summer Camps, enrichment Classes and annual Auction Fundraiser.
Who are Aurora School's main competitors?
Acorn Woodland Elementary (OUSD) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are The Athenian School, Head-Royce School, Bentley School, Beacon Day School, Crowden School, Prospect Sierra School, Park Day School, The Berkeley School and Redwood Day School.
Does Aurora School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aurora School.
What industry is Aurora School in?
Aurora School's product category is Independent K-8 Private Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools, with a secondary code of EDACABAM, Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 61111 and its SIC code is 8200.