Alliance for Progress Charter School

What Alliance for Progress Charter School does

Alliance for Progress Charter School (AFPCS) is a nonprofit K-8 public charter school located at 1722 Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia, founded in 1998 by the Women's Christian Alliance. It serves approximately 636 students in grades K-8, supported by 51 employees under CEO Stacey Scott and Principal Dr. Eric S. Langston Sr., and is authorized by the Charter Schools Office of the School District of Philadelphia. The school has completed six charter renewals, most recently in 2022, and earned Pennsylvania Keystone Awards (2003-2008), the 2023 PCPCS School of the Week honor, and the 2023 Beat The Odds grant from Elevate 215.

The school's core product is the K-8 academic program, anchored in published curricula (Wit & Wisdom for ELA, Wilson Fundations for foundational reading, Eureka Math, and Pearson Savaas for NGSS-aligned science) and supported by digital learning platforms (iReady/MyPath for personalized homework, PowerSchool for student information, and ClassDojo/Remind for communication). Supplementary offerings include a free after-school enrichment program operated in partnership with Columbia North YMCA, a summer school/ESY program, the Marilyn H. Rivers Innovation Lab (opened November 2023 for STEM activities), and a Student Support suite covering counseling, social work, SAP, and McKinney-Vento services. The school operates in a newly constructed elementary facility (built 2020, occupied January 2022) and a separate middle school building, with a 4th-floor Innovation Lab completed in late 2023.

AFPCS is funded almost entirely through per-pupil allocations from the School District of Philadelphia; it charges no tuition and provides free breakfast and lunch via the Community Eligibility Program. Enrollment is sourced through the centralized Apply Philly Charter lottery system, with sibling preference and word-of-mouth in the North Philadelphia community reinforcing the funnel. Marginal revenue streams include uniform sales and donations via Cash App and PayPal, which are immaterial relative to per-pupil funding. The school's GTM is community-rooted: the website, Instagram (@allianceforprogresscs), Harrisburg Advocacy Day participation with AACSC, and referrals from existing families serve as primary acquisition channels.

Name

Alliance for Progress Charter School

Legal name

Alliance for Progress Charter School

Website

https://afpcs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Alliance for Progress Charter School is a nonprofit K-8 public charter school in North Philadelphia serving approximately 636 students with per-pupil funding from the School District of Philadelphia, offering an academically rigorous, technology-enriched program with wraparound services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

Keywords

• K-8 charter education
• Primary education services
• Charter school programs
• Educational support services
• STEM learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding (Per-Pupil Allocation): As a charter school, AFPCS receives per-pupil funding from the School District of Philadelphia based on enrollment. This is the primary revenue stream supporting educational operations.
2. Uniform Sales: School uniforms are sold through an online store (promoplace.com/afpcs) with payments accepted via Cash App, PayPal, and cash. K-5 students wear navy polos; 6-8 students wear heather gray polos.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The school accepts donations via Cash App ($AFPCS) and PayPal. Annual fundraising efforts by students, staff, and parents support the school's mission and programs.
4. After Care Program: Free after school enrichment program operated in partnership with Columbia North YMCA, providing snacks, homework assistance, and enrichment activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alliance for Progress Charter School is a tuition-free K-8 public charter school that delivers a full academic program to approximately 636 students in North Philadelphia, enhanced by research-based curricula, a STEM-focused Innovation Lab, free breakfast and lunch, after-school enrichment through a YMCA partnership, and wraparound student support services. The school sells school uniforms via an online store as an auxiliary offering and accepts donations to support operations.

Product overview

Alliance for Progress Charter School is a K-8 charter school offering a unified educational program with multiple supporting services. The core product is the K-8 academic program, which includes instructional curricula (Wit & Wisdom for ELA, Wilson Fundations for foundational reading, Eureka Math for mathematics, and Pearson Savaas for science). Supporting modules include the After School Enrichment Program (in partnership with YMCA), Summer School/ESY, the Marilyn H. Rivers Innovation Lab (STEM focus), and Student Support Programs (counseling, social work, SAP). Additional services include iReady/MyPath homework, nutritional services through NDS, and school uniforms. The school operates from a newly constructed elementary school facility (K-6) and middle school (7-8).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Academic Program K-8 charter school education program providing enhanced educational opportunities with a focus on academic excellence, character development, and technological competence for approximately 636 students.
• After School Enrichment Program After-school program operated in partnership with Columbia North YMCA, providing snacks, homework assistance, and enriching programming from dismissal until 6:00 PM at no cost.
• Summer School / Extended School Year (ESY) Summer educational program providing educational activities, hands-on learning experiences, and field trips during the summer months.
• Marilyn H. Rivers Innovation Lab STEM-focused learning lab on the 4th floor of the elementary school where students engage in technology-oriented learning activities.
• Student Support Programs Comprehensive support services including school counseling, school social work, Student Assistance Program (SAP), McKinney-Vento Program, Social & Emotional Learning, and Child Study Team services.
• School Uniforms Uniform program with K-5 wearing navy polos and 6-8 wearing heather gray polos, available for purchase through the school's online uniform store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Expanded from K-5 (296 students) to K-8 (636 students) programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Goodwill Helms AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2024AFPCS partnered with Goodwill Helms Academy to offer GED classes starting March 5th, 2024. This partnership supports AFPCS families and the broader North Philadelphia community by providing educational opportunities for adult family members.
• Bright Hope Baptist ChurchminorOthers · 23 November 2023Bright Hope Baptist Church collaborated with AFPCS for the Thanksgiving 2023 Gratefulness Giveaway, which provided 36 families with full holiday dinners including turkey/chicken, produce, dairy, and trimmings.
• Charter Schools Office (CSO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2023The Charter Schools Office of the School District of Philadelphia is the charter authorizer for AFPCS. CSO attended the 4th floor ribbon cutting ceremony and featured AFPCS on the front page of their December 2023 newsletter, acknowledging the partnership in ensuring high standards.
• African American Charter School Coalition (AACSC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2023AFPCS participates in Harrisburg Advocacy Day with AACSC to advocate for protecting and expanding educational options for K-12 students and promoting school choice and equity for Black and Brown schools.
• Columbia North YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe After School Enrichment Program operates from school dismissal to 6:00 p.m. in partnership with Columbia North YMCA located on North Broad Street. YMCA staff coordinate enriching programming including snacks, homework assistance, and character-building activities. The program is free and licensed by the PA Department of Human Services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Mastery Charter Schools: Mastery is a Philadelphia-based charter management organization operating multiple K-12 campuses. Comparable as a direct Philadelphia charter competitor drawing from the same enrollment pool and pursuing a turnaround/college-prep model with wraparound supports.
• Independence Mission Schools: Independence Mission Schools is a network of Catholic K-8 schools in Philadelphia. Comparable as a K-8 school operator in North Philadelphia serving similar urban demographics, although tuition-based rather than charter-funded.
• KIPP Philadelphia Charter Schools: KIPP Philadelphia is a multi-site charter school network serving K-12 students in North Philadelphia with a college-prep mission. Highly comparable as a directly competing public charter operator in the same Philadelphia market, sharing the Apply Philly Charter enrollment funnel and per-pupil funding model.
• Universal Charter Schools (Universal Companies): Universal operates multiple Philadelphia charter schools serving K-12 students. Direct peer as a Philadelphia charter operator sharing the same city, enrollment system, and regulatory authorizer (School District of Philadelphia).
• First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School: First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School is a K-12 charter operator in Philadelphia. Comparable as a Philadelphia charter school competing in the same enrollment market with similar K-8 grade configuration options.
• Aspira Charter Schools (Aspira of Pennsylvania): Aspira operates charter schools in Philadelphia serving predominantly Latino and Black communities. Comparable as a Philadelphia charter operator sharing demographic mission and city-level charter authorization.

Regional players

• Chester Community Charter School: Chester Community Charter School is one of the largest K-8 charter schools in Pennsylvania, located just outside Philadelphia. Comparable as a single-authority K-8 charter operator in the same Pennsylvania regulatory environment with similar funding mechanics.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia School District (Public Schools): The School District of Philadelphia is AFPCS's authorizer and the primary public school alternative in the city. Comparable as the dominant K-12 education provider competing for the same students within Philadelphia's school choice ecosystem.
• Achievement First: Achievement First is a multi-state charter management organization operating K-12 charter schools in the Northeast US. Comparable as a broader charter network sharing the K-8 charter operator model, college-prep mission, and public per-pupil revenue model.

Others

• Elevate 215: Elevate 215 is the School District of Philadelphia's initiative supporting high-performing city schools, including AFPCS as a Beat The Odds grant recipient. Adjacent ecosystem participant as a strategic partner and grantmaker rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/allianceforprogresscs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-for-progress-charter-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Alliance for Progress Charter School