Del Lago Academy

What Del Lago Academy does

Del Lago Academy is a public, college-preparatory STEM high school located in Escondido, California, operating within the Escondido Union High School District. It was founded in August 2013 and serves students in grades 9 through 12 through a lottery-based admission process that includes inter- and intra-district transfer pathways. The school maintains a 27-person staff delivering a UC A-G approved curriculum with an 88.9% A-G completion rate, and earned placement on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll at the Bronze level. Each student is provisioned with an iPad as part of the standard learning stack.

The school's programmatic identity is anchored in biotechnology and healthcare pathways, supported by a network of external partnerships that include Cal State San Marcos (concurrent college enrollment), Palomar Health (healthcare industry exposure), the San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, the Stanford d.school (Design Thinking integration), and the San Diego County Library system. A mandatory 6-week junior internship culminating in an exhibition night is embedded in the graduation pathway, operationalizing work-based learning as a core product rather than an elective.

The institution is funded through public sources (state LCFF per-ADA allocations, district funding, and supplemental grants) rather than commercial revenue. It does not sell a product in the traditional sense; its "customers" are Escondido-area families applying through the lottery, and its primary growth levers are programmatic expansion (e.g., a 2026 summer school offering) and continued partnership development rather than commercial scale.

Name

Del Lago Academy

Legal name

Del Lago Academy - Campus of Applied Science

Website

https://dellagoacademy.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Del Lago Academy is a public STEM-focused high school in Escondido, California, serving grades 9-12 through lottery-based enrollment. It anchors a biotech and healthcare pathway with a mandatory 6-week junior internship and partnerships with CSUSM and Palomar Health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Secondary Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH)

Keywords

• STEM high school education
• College preparatory programs
• Biotechnology career pathways
• Public secondary education
• Linked learning academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Escondido

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Del Lago Academy is a public high school within the Escondido Union High School District. As a public institution, it operates on district and state funding rather than tuition. Additional revenue may come from ancillary sources such as yearbook sales, spirit wear, and activity fees.
2. Student Fees and Merchandise: Yearbooks pre-order for $50.00, cap and gown rentals through Josten's, spirit wear and merchandise sales through the DLA Webstore and Finance Office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Del Lago Academy - Campus of Applied Science is a public STEM-focused high school within the Escondido Union High School District, providing a four-year University of California A-G approved curriculum with an emphasis on bioscience, biotechnology, and healthcare career pathways. Core offerings include Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, Linked Learning integration, Competency-Based Learning, and a signature six-week junior internship program partnering with local healthcare organizations, research labs, and businesses for real-world experience.

Product overview

Del Lago Academy is a STEM-focused high school offering a comprehensive four-year educational program with a unified UC A-G approved curriculum. The institution operates as a single-pathway academy centered on Bioscience with Biotechnology and Healthcare emphasis. Core offerings include the CTE Pathways, Linked Learning integration, Competency-Based Learning model, and a signature six-week Junior Internship Program. The school provides supporting services including Library/Academic Commons with digital resources, and maintains a robust co-curricular program with clubs, athletics, and industry mentorship. All students follow the same four-year plan, progressing through Freshman to Senior Year programs with emphasis on interdisciplinary projects and real-world application of learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Four-Year STEM Curriculum (UC A-G Approved) A comprehensive four-year high school curriculum aligned with University of California A-G requirements, ensuring college readiness for all students with a STEM focus on bioscience, biotechnology, and healthcare pathways.
• CTE Pathways in Biotechnology and Healthcare Career Technical Education pathways focused on biotechnology and healthcare, providing hands-on lab experiences, industry internships, and technical skills for high-demand STEM careers.
• Six-Week Junior Internship Program A mandatory six-week internship program for all junior students partnering with local businesses, research labs, and healthcare organizations to provide real-world professional experience.
• Linked Learning Program (Bioscience) An integrated educational approach combining rigorous academics with career-based learning and real-world workplace experiences, centered on the bioscience and biotechnology pathway.
• Industry Mentors Program A career readiness program connecting students with industry professionals through career experience presentations, informational interviews, and internship mentorship.
• Library/Academic Commons School library offering ProQuest databases (CultureGrams, eLibrary, Central Student Edition), Encyclopedia Britannica, and partnership with Escondido Public Library.
• SORA Digital Library Platform A digital e-books and audiobook platform offering 400+ titles, with ability to add San Diego County Library databases for additional access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88.9% of Class of 2025 seniors met A-G requirements for UC admission
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Boys & Girls Club VistaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnering with DLA to provide students with real-world learning experiences and career exposure opportunities.
• California State University San MarcoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner offering concurrent enrollment for DLA juniors allowing them to take undergraduate coursework on campus at reduced cost. Also hosts Encuentros Leadership Summit for Latino students.
• California Center for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts center partnering with DLA to provide students with real-world learning experiences and exposure to arts and cultural careers.
• Center Stage ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts organization partnering with DLA to provide students with real-world experience in performing arts and production.
• Dental Ceramics West Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDental industry partner providing internship opportunities for students interested in healthcare and dental professions.
• Escondido Union School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerK-8 district partner in the Escondido region, feeding students into the EUHSD high school system including DLA.
• House of ManifoldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner providing internship opportunities and real-world experience for DLA students.
• Left Coast EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm partner providing internship opportunities for students interested in engineering careers.
• Longevity Physical TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing internship opportunities in physical therapy for students pursuing healthcare careers.
• Mobile Bumper and RepairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner providing internship opportunities and real-world business experience.
• Palomar PathmakerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare-related organization providing internship opportunities for DLA students.
• Poeima ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner providing internship opportunities for students interested in design and architecture careers.
• WeCare PharmacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmacy partner providing internship opportunities for students interested in healthcare and pharmaceutical careers.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner providing internship opportunities and community engagement programs.
• Palomar HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare partner actively engaging in student learning through career experience presentations, simulation activities, and healthcare education programs. Partners in freshman interdisciplinary projects and community health fair.
• San Diego County Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health agency partner in freshman year curriculum, providing important context for learning about public health and community wellness.
• San Diego Children's Discovery MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum partner for sophomore Design Expo where students apply knowledge to design traveling exhibits for elementary and middle school students. Serves as client for scholar design work and Presentation of Learning venue.
• San Diego County LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary partnership providing students access to digital resources and library services supporting academic research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• High Tech High: San Diego-based public charter network using Linked Learning, project-based, and competency-based models with strong STEM/industry pathway integration - the closest structural analog to Del Lago Academy's model and geographic market.
• Kearny High School of Biomedical Science and Engineering: San Diego Unified public high school operating Linked Learning biomedical pathway programs with industry internship requirements - directly comparable CTE/STEM pathway structure.
• Health Sciences High & Middle College: Public charter high school in San Diego with a healthcare/biomedical pathway including internship and concurrent college coursework - closely aligned biotech/healthcare career focus.
• e3 Civic High School: San Diego charter high school operating a Linked Learning pathway model with healthcare and engineering emphases - directly comparable Linked Learning implementation and regional footprint.
• Preuss School UCSD: Public college-prep secondary school in San Diego affiliated with UCSD, focused on first-generation college-bound students with a rigorous STEM-adjacent curriculum - comparable mission, public funding model, and demographic intent.
• California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS): California public high school specializing in STEM with healthcare/biotech threads and high UC admission rates - comparable STEM-specialty public school at greater scale.
• Canyon Crest Academy: Same EUHSD district peer offering rigorous STEM college-prep curriculum to Escondido-area students - competing for the same lottery applicant pool within district boundaries.

Broad incumbents

• IDEA Public Schools: Large national public charter network with a STEM/college-prep focus - relevant comparable at scale showing the larger incumbent model for the same student outcome thesis.

Regional players

• Classical Academies: San Diego-area public charter network (Escondido campuses) offering college-prep curriculum - regional competitor for the same Escondido STEM-seeker demographic.

Others

• Linked Learning Alliance: Field-building intermediary supporting schools adopting the Linked Learning certification Del Lago Academy uses - adjacent ecosystem participant influencing the school's framework choices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClrk8BLy-fnhz_g2xGnmH1A
• Facebookfacebook.com/DelLagoAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/dlafirebirds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/del-lago-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Del Lago Academy