Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)

What Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) does

The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) is a public high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, not a commercial entity. It is jointly operated by Clovis Unified School District and Fresno Unified School District, and was opened in the 2000-2001 academic year. CART serves juniors and seniors from 14 high schools across these two districts, with annual attendance of more than 1,400 students and physical capacity for 1,600 students across AM and PM sessions at a single campus at 2555 Clovis Ave, Clovis, California. The program is publicly funded, charges no tuition or fees, and operates under a random lottery-based admission process for applicants.

CART's product surface is a portfolio of 14 specialized CTE "lab" pathways, including Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Engineering/Manufacturing/Robotics, Forensic Research & Biotechnology, Environmental Science & Field Research, Web Application Development, Interactive Game Design, Mobile App/UX Design +AI, Digital Marketing & Entrepreneurship, Business & Finance, Multimedia Graphic Design, Multimedia Video Production, Law & Policy, and Psychology & Human Behavior. Each lab integrates core academics (English, science, social science) with hands-on, project-based learning using professional tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, CAD/CAM solutions, CNC machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, and industry-standard development platforms. All courses are UC a-g approved, and dual-enrollment college credit is available through State Center Community College District articulation and UNITRACK. Supporting infrastructure includes a Summer Academy outreach program for 4th-7th graders, industry-recognized certifications (Microsoft, Adobe, CIW, Google UX Design), and an extensive network of 20+ university, government, and corporate partners (e.g., CSU Fresno, UC Merced, FBI, CAL FIRE, Southern California Edison, Fresno Chaffee Zoo).

The revenue model is public education funding routed through the two partner districts; CART does not sell a product or service to commercial customers and does not disclose financials. Operating geographies are restricted to students residing within the two founding districts in California's Central Valley. The organization is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) (Federal ID 77-0496752) and is supported by a CART Foundation that provides scholarships. Headcount is approximately 66 staff, and the program was recently profiled by CalMatters as a potential model for California education.

Name

Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)

Legal name

The Center For Advanced Research & Technology

Website

https://cart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Public CTE high school program jointly operated by Clovis Unified and Fresno Unified School Districts, offering 14 career pathway labs to ~1,400 juniors and seniors from 14 high schools at a single Clovis, CA campus, funded by district education dollars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education (Secondary Education)

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Secondary education programs
• Project-based learning
• STEM workforce development
• Dual enrollment pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Clovis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: CART is a public high school program funded through its two partner districts (Clovis Unified and Fresno Unified). No tuition or fees are charged to students.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CART is a public high school Career Technical Education (CTE) program that delivers 14 project-based lab pathways to juniors and seniors from two partner school districts. Students earn UC a-g approved college-prep credits while gaining hands-on career-focused skills using industry-standard tools, with opportunities for industry certifications and dual enrollment college credit. The program is free to students and funded through the partner districts.

Product overview

The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) is a public high school CTE (Career and Technical Education) program offering a unified platform of 14 distinct educational lab pathways for juniors and seniors from two school districts. Rather than a traditional technology product, CART provides integrated educational programs where students earn college-prep credits while exploring career pathways. Each lab functions as a specialized module within CART's portfolio: STEM-focused labs (Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Engineering/Manufacturing/Robotics, Environmental Science) provide hands-on science and technical training; technology and media labs (Web Application Development, Interactive Game Design, UX Design, Multimedia Video, Multimedia Graphic Design) teach digital skills; career-oriented labs (Business & Finance, Digital Marketing & Entrepreneurship) build professional competencies; and applied science labs (Forensic Research & Biotechnology, Psychology & Human Behavior, Law & Policy) explore social and scientific disciplines. All pathways integrate English and core academics with specialized curriculum, offer college credit articulation, and prepare students for the workforce. Additionally, CART operates a Summer Academy as an outreach program for middle school students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biomedicine Lab
• Biotechnology Lab
• Business & Finance ROP
• Digital Marketing & Entrepreneurship Lab
• Engineering, Manufacturing & Robotics Lab
• Environmental Science & Field Research ROP
• Forensic Research & Biotechnology Lab
• Interactive Game Design ROP
• Law & Policy Lab
• Mobile App/UX Design +AI ROP
• Multimedia—Digital Media & Graphic Design ROP
• Multimedia—Digital Video Production & Broadcast ROP
• Psychology & Human Behavior Lab
• Web Application Development ROP
• CART Summer Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% UC a-g approved courses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Covis PDminorOthersLaw enforcement partner for the Forensic Research & Biotechnology lab, providing real-world expertise and potentially field trip opportunities.
• California State University, Fresno (CSUF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSUF DOJ Lab and university partnerships provide college credit articulation, faculty expertise, and research mentorship for multiple labs including Forensic Research, Engineering, and Environmental Science.
• FBIminorOthersFederal law enforcement partner for Forensic Research lab providing industry expertise and real-world case study context.
• Stemler Fire InvestigationsminorOthersFire investigation partner providing forensic science expertise and real-world context for crime scene analysis.
• University of California, MercedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Merced partners with Environmental Science & Field Research lab and Psychology & Human Behavior lab, providing university-level research mentorship and academic resources.
• Fresno Chaffee ZoominorOthersZoo partnership provides field research opportunities and animal enrichment projects for Environmental Science students.
• Southern California EdisonminorOthersUtility company partner for Environmental Science lab, providing industry expertise and potential sponsorship for environmental research projects.
• Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation ServiceminorOthersWildlife rehabilitation partner providing hands-on learning opportunities and wildlife care experience for Environmental Science students.
• U.S. Forest ServiceminorOthersFederal agency partner providing field research opportunities and environmental science mentorship.
• Central California Environmental Justice NetworkminorOthersCommunity organization partner for Environmental Science lab providing advocacy focus and community engagement opportunities.
• Betts CompanyminorOthersManufacturing company partner for Engineering, Manufacturing & Robotics lab providing industry context and potential project mentorship.
• Grundfos PumpsminorOthersPump manufacturing partner for Engineering lab providing industry expertise and real-world engineering applications.
• Trail-GearminorOthersOff-road equipment manufacturer partner for Engineering lab providing design and manufacturing project context.
• CAL FIREminorOthersCalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection partner providing engineering and robotics applications context.
• Fresno StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State University, Fresno partners with Digital Marketing & Entrepreneurship lab, providing college pathway connections and marketing industry expertise.
• De Young PropertiesminorOthersLocal real estate company partner providing marketing projects and industry experience for Digital Marketing students.
• GS&P (Glickman Sunderlage Sorensen Polacca & Yoshikawa)minorOthersAdvertising agency partner providing real-world marketing campaign experience for Digital Marketing students.
• China Peak Mountain ResortminorOthersLocal resort partner where Digital Marketing students have worked on marketing campaigns.
• State Center Community College DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college district providing dual enrollment college credit for Psychology and Human Behavior, Cybersecurity, Web Applications, and Game Design courses.
• UC MercedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of California Merced partners with Psychology & Human Behavior lab providing research mentorship and academic pathway connections.
• Clovis Unified School DistrictcoreOthersOne of two founding district partners that fund and support CART. CUSD students attend CART as part of their educational options.
• Fresno Unified School DistrictcoreOthersOne of two founding district partners that fund and support CART. FUSD students attend CART as part of their educational options.

Scale indicators6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stride (formerly K12 Inc.): Stride is a large online learning provider serving K-12 students nationwide, including career readiness and CTE pathways. It is comparable to CART as a competitor for the same high school student market, but operates at much larger scale through online delivery rather than a single physical campus.

Emerging players

• EdisonLearning: EdisonLearning partners with public school districts to manage and operate schools, including career-focused and alternative education programs. It is comparable to CART as a delivery model for district-managed CTE programs, though it operates across multiple states rather than as a single specialized campus.

Direct peers

• Da Vinci Schools: Da Vinci Schools is a California-based network of public high schools offering project-based, career-themed pathways with strong industry and higher-education partnerships. It is comparable to CART because both serve California public high school students with specialized CTE pathways designed to bridge directly into college and careers.
• P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School): P-TECH is a public grade 9-14 model that integrates high school, college coursework, and industry internships in STEM/CTE fields. It is comparable to CART because both provide public school students with integrated academic + career-technical pathways that culminate in industry-recognized credentials and college credit.
• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning is a network of student-centered public schools built around project-based learning, internships, and individualized learning plans. It is comparable to CART because both use intensive project-based, mentor-supported models to deliver college and career readiness in a public-school setting.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): NAF operates career-themed academies inside public high schools, with industry advisory boards, project-based curriculum, and work-based learning. NAF is highly comparable to CART because both deliver CTE pathways to public high school juniors and seniors through structured industry partnerships and college-prep credit.

Others

• Edmentum: Edmentum provides online K-12 curriculum and instructional tools, including career and technical education courseware. It is comparable to CART as an enabler of CTE content for high school students, but operates as a curriculum and software supplier rather than as a hands-on, in-person program.
• Project Lead the Way: Project Lead the Way provides K-12 STEM and computer science curriculum, teacher training, and classroom equipment to public schools. It is comparable to CART as a supplier of CTE curriculum and tools to high school programs, though PLTW licenses its content broadly rather than operating a single physical CTE campus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-advanced-research-and-technology-cart-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)