CREC Academy of Science and Innovation

What CREC Academy of Science and Innovation does

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation is a public interdistrict magnet school serving grades 6 through 12 in New Britain, Connecticut, operated by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). The school is STEM-focused and admits students tuition-free through the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) lottery, drawing applicants from more than 40 participating towns in the Greater Hartford region. It maintains a Discovery Academy feeder relationship for grades 4-5 that provides priority access into the upper-school pathway system.

The school's core academic product is a structured three-pathway STEM curriculum: Biotechnology, Engineering & Robotics, and Data & Computer Science. Each pathway uses specialized on-campus laboratory facilities for robotics, biotechnology, and aquaponics. The academic platform integrates UConn Early College Experience coursework, dual enrollment with Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), and standardized learning platforms including PowerSchool, Schoology, Khan Academy, and STMath. The Academy's high school students participate in UConn ECE at a 51.68% rate, the highest of any Connecticut school.

Revenue mechanics are public-sector rather than commercial. The school is funded by state, local, and federal education appropriations channeled through CREC, with no tuition charged to families. It holds Magnet School of Distinction designations from Magnet Schools of America for both 2025 and 2026, the highest tier of national magnet certification. The 103-person staff directory indicates a moderate-sized secondary institution, and the entity has no disclosed commercial revenue streams, equity funding, or for-profit ownership structure.

Name

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation

Legal name

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation

Website

https://asi.crecschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation is a tuition-free public interdistrict magnet school in New Britain, Connecticut, serving grades 6-12 through a three-pathway STEM curriculum (Biotechnology, Engineering & Robotics, Data & Computer Science) with UConn and CCSU dual-enrollment, admitting students via the RSCO lottery from 40+ towns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public STEM Magnet Secondary Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC)

Keywords

• STEM secondary education
• Public magnet school
• College preparatory programs
• Biotechnology education
• Robotics engineering courses

Headquarters

HQ city

New Britain

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Operates as a tuition-free public magnet school funded through Connecticut state education funding, local district contributions, and federal education grants. No direct tuition revenue is collected from families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation is a tuition-free public magnet school serving Grades 6-12 with a structured pathway system that progresses from middle school exploration through high school core classes to specialized electives in Biotechnology & Environmental Science, Engineering & Robotics, and Data & Computer Science. The school integrates college preparation through UConn Early College Experience, AP courses, and CCSU dual enrollment, supported by purpose-built STEM facilities including Robotics, Biotechnology, and Aquaponics labs.

Product overview

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation is a tuition-free public magnet school serving Grades 6-12 with a focus on four key areas of 21st-century technology: environmental engineering, biotechnology, robotics, and computer science. The school offers a structured pathway system moving from middle school exploration (Grades 6-8) through core high school classes (Grades 9-10) to specialized pathway electives (Grades 11-12) in Biotechnology & Environmental Science, Engineering & Robotics, and Data & Computer Science. The program integrates college preparation through UConn Early College Experience (ECE), AP courses, and dual enrollment with CCSU. Support services include counseling, after-school clubs, athletics, food services, and specialized laboratory facilities including Robotics Lab, Biotechnology Lab, and Aquaponics systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grades 6-8 Middle School Program Middle school program providing exploration of STEM and foundational subjects through core courses (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, STEM, Social Studies, Spanish, Physical Education & Health) and rotating electives in Science & Engineering (Hydroponics, Intro to Engineering, Robotics), Computer Science (AI/Python, Game Coding, Computer Applications), and Arts & Music.
• Grades 9-10 Core Classes High school core curriculum including English Language Arts I & II, Algebra I & II, Physics & Biology, US History, African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latinx Studies, Spanish I/II/III, and Environmental 1 & 2.
• Biotechnology & Environmental Science Pathway Specialized elective pathway for grades 11-12 covering Cellular Biology & Genetics, Introduction to Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Fresh Water Ecology, and ECE Environmental Science.
• Engineering & Robotics Pathway Specialized elective pathway for grades 11-12 covering Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Intro to Engineering, Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones), and Robotics I-IV.
• Data & Computer Science Pathway Specialized elective pathway for grades 11-12 covering Coding, AP Computer Science Principles, Cybersecurity, and HS Game Design.
• UConn Early College Experience (ECE) University-level courses in Biology, English, and more that earn transferable college credits; school ranked #1 with 51.68% of high school population participating.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Rigorous AP courses including AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, and AP Government and Politics for college credit.
• CCSU Dual Enrollment Dual enrollment partnership with Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) allowing students to earn college credits and gain early college exposure.
• Capstone Project Required comprehensive research project for 11th-grade students.
• School Counseling Services Counseling department assisting with graduation requirements, course selection, post-secondary planning, career decisions, and interpersonal skills.
• After School Clubs Various afterschool clubs running Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 4:30 PM, including optional dinner and bus transportation.
• Athletics Program Sports programs including baseball and volleyball teams with maroon and white team colors.
• Food Services Meal program operating under Community Eligibility Provision with all meals served at no charge to students during 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 51.68% of high school students enrolled in UConn ECE courses, earning transferable college credits while in high school
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Connecticut Early College Experience (ECE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing high school students to earn transferable college credits through university-level courses while still in high school. School ranked #1 in participation with 51.68% of students enrolled. Courses include Biology, English, and Environmental Science.
• Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership allowing students to earn college credits through dual enrollment opportunities at CCSU, providing early college exposure and pathway to higher education.
• Discovery AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect Pathway School - Discovery Academy students receive placement priority when applying to Academy of Science and Innovation, creating a feeder school relationship within the CREC system.
• Regional School Choice Office (RSCO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRSCO is the centralized office established by Connecticut State Department of Education to manage school choice applications and placement for 44 magnet schools in Greater Hartford region, bringing together families from over 40 towns.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stuyvesant High School: Selective NYC public specialized high school focused on mathematics, science, and technology. Comparable college-prep STEM magnet model serving grades 9-12 with admission exam and competitive applicant pool.
• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA): Public residential magnet school for grades 10-12 dedicated to STEM immersion with research, innovation labs, and university partnerships. Statewide model for STEM secondary education.
• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: Public residential magnet for grades 11-12 with intensive STEM curriculum, research mentorship, and university partnerships. Closely comparable college-prep STEM magnet model with specialized facilities.
• Bronx High School of Science: Highly selective New York City public magnet school specializing in mathematics and science. Long-standing national model for STEM-focused secondary public education with rigorous college-prep curriculum.
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology: Elite Virginia public magnet focused on STEM with specialized labs, research opportunities, and university partnerships. National benchmark for STEM-focused public magnet schools at the secondary level.
• CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering: Sibling CREC magnet school serving grades 6-12 in the Hartford region with a parallel STEM focus on aerospace and engineering. Operates under identical RSCO lottery and CREC governance, competing for the same applicant pool with adjacent technical specializations.
• CREC Academy of Computer Science and Engineering: CREC magnet school offering grades 6-12 with a computer science and engineering focus. Most direct curriculum overlap with the Academy of Science and Innovation's Data & Computer Science pathway, drawing from the same RSCO applicant pool.

Emerging players

• Mass Academy of Math and Science at WPI: Public STEM magnet for grades 11-12 located on the WPI campus in Massachusetts. Smaller-scale but conceptually similar model of STEM-focused college-prep with university partnership.

Regional players

• CREC Academy of International Studies 6-12: CREC magnet school serving grades 6-12 in the Hartford region. Competes in the same RSCO applicant pool but specializes in international/global studies rather than STEM, illustrating differentiation strategies among CREC peers.
• Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary: Elementary-level CREC STEM magnet serving as a feeder/adjacent program within the same regional network. Comparable curriculum philosophy but operates at elementary level within the same Hartford magnet ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CRECSCHOOLS
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRECInnovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/crecscienceandinnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crec-academy-of-science-and-innovation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 CREC Academy of Science and Innovation