CAST Schools Network

What CAST Schools Network does

CAST Schools Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, that operates a network of 7 career-themed public schools in partnership with 4 public school districts. The organization structures its schools around industry-themed pathways, embedding employer-led experiential learning directly into the public school day so that students earn credit toward graduation while building exposure to target occupations.

The model is funded through a blended stack: philanthropic grants (notably from City Education Partners), per-student programmatic contributions (documented at roughly $802.38 per student), and tiered corporate sponsorships priced at $5,000-$20,000. Employer partners — including H-E-B (reaching 1,500+ students), Lancer Worldwide, Toyotetsu TX, CPS Energy, Plus One Robotics, VelocityTX, and Frost — provide work-based learning experiences, mentorships, and curriculum input that differentiate CAST's schools from conventional district offerings.

The organization is led by Executive Director Jennifer Maestas, who succeeded founder Jeanne Russell in late 2025, and operates with a staff of 11-50. Its competitive position rests on durable district partnerships, a multi-sided employer-district-student ecosystem, and 501(c)(3) governance that lowers coordination frictions with public-sector stakeholders. The core offering is human-delivered; no AI/ML technology layer is documented.

Name

CAST Schools Network

Legal name

The Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Network

Website

https://castschools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAST Schools Network is a San Antonio-based 501(c)(3) that runs 7 career-themed public schools across 4 districts, pairing students with employer partners such as H-E-B and CPS Energy for industry-aligned experiential learning funded by sponsorships and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJACAK

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Charter K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDAJAAAF

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

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Public K–12 Schools & Districts

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Career-themed schools
• Project-based learning
• Work-based learning
• STEM education network

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio, TX

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CAST Schools relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. They offer various sponsorship levels for youth leadership events ($5,000-$20,000), specific program sponsorships, and general donations. They also accept $800 donations to close the opportunity gap for one student.
2. Partnership with School Districts: CAST operates as partnership schools with public school districts. The cost differential to prepare CAST students for college, career and life is approximately $802.38 per student, funded through district partnerships and supplementary support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAST Schools Network operates a portfolio of seven career-themed public schools in San Antonio, Texas — one PreK-12 Academy (Advanced Learning Academy), one middle school (CAST Imagine), and five high schools (CAST STEM, CAST Med, CAST Tech, CAST Teach, CAST Lead) — delivered in partnership with four public school districts. The schools provide project-based learning, work-based learning experiences (internships, pre-apprenticeships, mentoring), youth leadership development, and college preparation to public school students at no tuition cost.

Product overview

CAST Schools Network is a portfolio of 7 career-themed public schools in San Antonio, Texas, comprising one PK-12 Academy (Advanced Learning Academy), one middle school (CAST Imagine), and five high schools focused on specific career themes: CAST Lead (leadership), CAST Med (healthcare), CAST STEM (science/technology/engineering/math), CAST Teach (education), and CAST Tech (technology/cybersecurity). The network provides project-based learning, work-based learning experiences including internships and apprenticeships, youth leadership development programs, and college preparation. The schools operate as open-source lab schools for partner districts, emphasizing student-driven learning with teachers as facilitators. The cost to prepare students is approximately $802.38 per student, funding both academic instruction and career-readiness activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Learning Academy A PreK-12 academy within the CAST Schools Network offering project-based and career-connected learning for students across San Antonio partner districts.
• CAST Imagine A middle school within the CAST Schools Network focused on STEM careers and project-based learning for San Antonio public school students.
• CAST Lead A career-themed high school focused on leadership development, preparing students for college and careers through customized learning experiences.
• CAST Med A career-themed high school focused on medical and healthcare careers, preparing students for college and careers in the healthcare field.
• CAST STEM A career-themed high school focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers with project-based learning and industry partnerships.
• CAST Teach A career-themed high school focused on education and teaching careers within the CAST Schools Network.
• CAST Tech A career-themed high school focused on technology and cybersecurity careers, offering IT and cybersecurity education with industry certifications.
• Youth Leadership Programs Programs including Youth Voice platforms, arts experiences, writing, theater, video production, and student-led conferences that develop student leadership skills across the network.
• Career-Readiness Programs Internships, apprenticeships, and job placement programs that connect students with career opportunities and industry partners across the network's employer ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of CAST students plan to enroll in college
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Antonio Independent School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four public school districts partnering with CAST Schools to provide career-themed STEM education. Districts provide infrastructure and student enrollment for the partnership schools.
• Higher Education InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColleges including St. Mary's University, Palo Alto College, Texas A&M-San Antonio, and University of the Incarnate Word partner with CAST to provide dual credit opportunities and seamless pathways from high school to college.
• Local Employers from Target IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployers from target industries provide internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, and job shadow experiences for students. These industry partners help expose students to high-wage, high-demand careers.
• Lancer WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAST industry partner where alumni complete internships. Alumni Priam Nuques interned during high school and has been invited back to work every subsequent summer, eventually offered a Laboratory Technician position.
• H-E-BcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerH-E-B has offered more than 1,500 students experiential learning opportunities over the last ten years through summer internships and job shadow experiences. Board member Katie Chain built H-E-B's High School and Two-Year Technical Internship Programs.
• Toyotetsu TXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Leslie Cantu serves as VP of Administration at Toyotetsu TX, representing advanced manufacturing sector in the CAST Schools ecosystem.
• CPS EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Lisa Lewis serves as Chief Administrative Officer at CPS Energy, representing the utility sector in the CAST Schools network.
• Plus One RoboticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Erik Nieves co-founded Plus One Robotics, representing the robotics and automation industry in CAST Schools network.
• VelocityTXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Rene Dominguez serves as President and CEO of VelocityTX, representing the life sciences innovation ecosystem in San Antonio.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Big Picture Learning: National network of project-based schools emphasizing internships, mentorships, and real-world learning experiences; directly comparable to CAST's work-based learning approach.
• KIPP Texas Public Schools: Texas charter network operating multiple themed schools with a college-prep orientation; comparable in scale, mission, and operating geography to CAST Schools Network.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): National nonprofit operating career academies within existing high schools focused on career-themed pathways like health sciences, technology, and engineering; directly comparable to CAST's themed high school structure.
• YES Prep Public Schools: Houston-area public charter network with career-themed campuses and a strong college matriculation focus; directly comparable to CAST's college-and-career mission and Texas footprint.
• Carpe Diem Schools: San Antonio-area public charter network offering college and career preparation with blended and project-based learning models, operating in CAST's exact geography.
• P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School): IBM-originated model pairing high schools with industry and higher education partners for STEM-focused, dual-credit pathways leading to industry credentials; closely aligned with CAST Tech and dual-credit architecture.
• High Tech High: San Diego-based network of project-based, career-connected public charter schools emphasizing internships and real-world learning; closely aligned with CAST's project-based career-focused pedagogy.
• Linked Learning: A career pathway approach integrating academics with industry-themed work-based learning; comparable to CAST's model of combining rigorous academics with industry exposure and internships.
• IDEA Public Schools: Large Texas-based public charter network with a strong college-prep mission and similar goal of sending graduates to college; comparable to CAST in serving Texas students through a network of themed schools.

Others

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit focused on expanding equitable economic mobility through education and career pathways; adjacent to CAST as a peer/funder operating in the same college-and-career ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CASTschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CASTSchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/CASTschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cast-schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CAST Schools Network