EPIC Academy | A Better School
EPIC Academy is a founder-operated K-5 therapeutic school in Gowanus, Brooklyn serving children with behavioral and learning differences through a trauma-informed embedded services model. It charges $100,000 tuition annually with enrollment capped at 30 students in mixed-grade classes of 4-10.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What EPIC Academy | A Better School does
EPIC Academy | A Better School is a privately held, founder-operated K-5 therapeutic school located in Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York, founded in 2018 by Katerina H Watson. The school serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade who present with physical aggression, oppositional defiance, pathological demand avoidance, hyperfixation, meltdowns, anxiety, rejection sensitive dysphoria, and other behavioral and learning differences that have not been successfully supported in traditional educational settings. EPIC operates an embedded services model in which occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, a physical therapist, and a licensed clinical social worker deliver therapeutic support directly inside the classroom rather than via pull-out sessions, and all staff are trained in trauma-informed therapeutic crisis de-escalation.
The core product is the K-5 Therapeutic Education Program, which integrates a rigorous progressive academic curriculum (literacy, writing across content areas, math, science/STEM, social studies) with social-emotional learning, group sensory sessions, weekly social group counseling, and enrichment programs (chess, art, music, physical education, roleplaying games). Enrollment is intentionally capped at 30 students, organized in mixed-grade classes of 4-10 students with a special education teacher plus one to three associate teachers per class. The proprietary methodology combines co-regulation techniques, Zones of Regulation instruction, and academic-therapeutic integration.
EPIC generates revenue primarily through tuition, set at $100,000 per academic year for 2026-2027, with a deferred tuition program for families demonstrating financial need. Many families receive partial or full reimbursement through Carter and Connors funding, and EPIC has formalized referral relationships with five law firms to assist families in assembling reimbursement portfolios. A secondary revenue stream is Parent University, a monthly Zoom series offered free to current and alumni families and for a modest fee to outside families. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: families apply via the school's website, participate in a virtual consultation with the founder, and progress through a multi-step admissions process. The school is bootstrapped and founder-owned with no disclosed external funding, operates from a single Brooklyn campus, and has grown student enrollment from 4 to more than triple that figure since 2018.
EPIC Academy | A Better School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EPIC Academy | A Better School
- Legal name
- EPIC Academy
- Website
- https://abetterschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- EPIC Academy is a founder-operated K-5 therapeutic school in Gowanus, Brooklyn serving children with behavioral and learning differences through a trauma-informed embedded services model. It charges $100,000 tuition annually with enrollment capped at 30 students in mixed-grade classes of 4-10.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EPIC Academy | A Better School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools (EDAKAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI), Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)
Keywords
Where EPIC Academy | A Better School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EPIC Academy | A Better School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition. EPIC's 2026-2027 tuition rate is $100,000 per academic year. Many families successfully receive reimbursement through Carter and Connors funding.
- Deferred Tuition Program: Temporary financial assistance for families unable to afford upfront costs. Limited availability based on greatest need.
- Parent University: Monthly Zoom series offered free to current and alumni families; offered to outside families for a modest fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full-time K-5 Enrollment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Parent University (Current/Alumni Families) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Parent University (Outside Families) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
EPIC Academy | A Better School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EPIC Academy is a private K-5 therapeutic school that delivers a trauma-informed educational program integrating rigorous progressive academics with embedded therapeutic services for students with behavioral and learning differences. The school serves up to 30 students in mixed-grade classes of 4-10, with special education teachers, associate teachers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, a physical therapist, and a licensed clinical social worker working directly within classrooms. Families enroll directly through the school's website at $100,000 per academic year (2026-2027), with a deferred tuition program and Parent University family education series offered alongside.
Product overview
EPIC Academy is a K-5 therapeutic school offering a unified educational program that combines trauma-informed behavioral support with rigorous, progressive academics. The core K-5 Therapeutic Education Program serves students with unique behavioral and learning needs through an embedded services model where academic instruction (Literacy, Writing, Math, Science & STEM, Social Studies) is integrated with therapeutic support (Social-Emotional Learning, Group Sensory, Social Group Counseling, Related Services). Specialty enrichment programs including Chess, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Roleplaying Games complement the academic and therapeutic curriculum. Family support is provided through Parent University and special events. The program is designed to be small by design with enrollment capped at 30 students in mixed-grade classes of 4-10 students.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- K-5 Therapeutic Education Program Full-time K-5 therapeutic school program for students exhibiting physical aggression, oppositional defiance, pathological demand avoidance, hyperfixation, meltdowns, anxiety, rejection sensitive dysphoria, and similar challenges, combining trauma-informed behavioral support with rigorous progressive academics in mixed-grade classes of 4-10.
- Embedded Related Services (OT, SLP, Social Work, PT) Related therapeutic services — Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Licensed Clinical Social Work, and Physical Therapy — embedded into the classroom setting rather than delivered as pull-out sessions, available to enrolled students.
- Parent University Monthly Zoom series equipping parents with strategies to support children at home, covering therapeutic crisis de-escalation, fostering independence, Zones of Regulation, and sensory integration. Free for current and alumni families; modest fee for outside families.
Quantifiable outcome
- Students consistently perform above grade-level expectations in academic content areas
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use EPIC Academy | A Better School
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
EPIC Academy | A Better School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EPIC Academy | A Better School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Scott M. Cohen LawminorLegal team that EPIC families have worked with for tuition reimbursement from the department of education.
- Sklar & AssociatesminorLegal team recommended to EPIC families for seeking tuition reimbursement funding.
- Ratcliff LawminorLegal team that EPIC families have worked with for tuition reimbursement cases.
- Mayer LawminorWell-regarded legal team recommended by members of the EPIC community for tuition reimbursement.
- Student Equity SolutionsminorLegal resource well-regarded and recommended by members of the EPIC community for education funding.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
EPIC Academy | A Better School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Eagle Hill School: Established private special-education school in Massachusetts serving students with language-based learning disabilities; a more mature, larger-scale analog of EPIC's small-class therapeutic model.
- The Wolf School: Private Rhode Island school for students with complex learning disabilities, language-based challenges, and social-emotional needs; comparable therapeutic/small-class philosophy at a larger scale.
Direct peers
- Hallen School: Private NYC school for students with language-based learning disabilities and social-emotional challenges; small classes and embedded supports make it a structural twin to EPIC.
- Cooke Center Academy: NYC special-education school serving students with developmental disabilities and autism through individualized, therapeutic programming — directly comparable NYC therapeutic day school.
- Spring Academy: Therapeutic day school for students with emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs using individualized academic and clinical supports; directly comparable therapeutic day-school model.
- League School: Long Island special-education school for children with autism and severe learning/behavioral challenges offering therapeutic programming — directly comparable mission and population.
- Aaron School: NYC private K-12 school for students with language, learning, and social-emotional needs, integrating related services and small-group instruction — closest geographic and curricular peer to EPIC.
- Rebecca School: NYC therapeutic school for neurodiverse students with autism and developmental delays using a relationship-based developmental model — comparable NYC therapeutic day-school positioning.
- Odyssey School: Private special-education school serving students with language-based learning disabilities and ADHD; small classes and embedded services align closely with EPIC's approach.
- The Graham School: NYC private special-education school serving students with language-based learning disabilities and social-emotional challenges; highly comparable therapeutic/academic integration model in the same metro.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EPIC Academy | A Better School social profiles
Digital presenceEPIC Academy | A Better School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EPIC Academy | A Better School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
EPIC Academy | A Better School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EPIC Academy | A Better 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 EPIC Academy | A Better School
What does EPIC Academy | A Better School do?
EPIC Academy is a private K-5 therapeutic school that delivers a trauma-informed educational program integrating rigorous progressive academics with embedded therapeutic services for students with behavioral and learning differences. The school serves up to 30 students in mixed-grade classes of 4-10, with special education teachers, associate teachers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, a physical therapist, and a licensed clinical social worker working directly within classrooms. Families enroll directly through the school's website at $100,000 per academic year (2026-2027), with a deferred tuition program and Parent University family education series offered alongside.
Is EPIC Academy | A Better School a public or private company?
EPIC Academy | A Better School is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was EPIC Academy | A Better School founded?
EPIC Academy | A Better School was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is EPIC Academy | A Better School based?
EPIC Academy | A Better School is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does EPIC Academy | A Better School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are deferred Tuition Program and parent University.
Who are EPIC Academy | A Better School's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Eagle Hill School and The Wolf School. Direct peers are Hallen School, Cooke Center Academy, Spring Academy, League School, Aaron School, Rebecca School, Odyssey School and The Graham School.
Does EPIC Academy | A Better School have an API?
No public API is recorded for EPIC Academy | A Better School.
What industry is EPIC Academy | A Better School in?
EPIC Academy | A Better School's product category is Special Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAAAC, Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJABAI, Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.