Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS

What Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS does

Chester Charter Scholars Academy (CCSA) is a non-profit, K-12 arts-integrated public charter school operating on a single 90,000 sq ft, $30 million purpose-built campus at 1500 Highland Avenue in Chester, Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 2012 under the initiative of John Alston (Chester Children's Chorus) and is currently led by Head of School/CEO Akosua Watts. CCSA enrolls approximately 695 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, drawn primarily from the Chester Upland School District with a lottery-based admissions process administered via Focus School Software and a waitlist of roughly 600 additional students.

CCSA's core product is an arts-integrated curriculum combining five arts disciplines — visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and dance — with traditional core academics (reading, writing, math, science, social studies), developed collaboratively by classroom and arts teachers. The product surface includes Arts Majors for high school students, dual-enrollment college credit through Delaware County Community College, a Health Sciences Elective Program with Main Line Health, a Math Lab & Intervention program, the 21st Century Out-of-School Time STEAM program, competitive athletics in the Bicentennial Athletic League, and community-partnership enrichment with more than a dozen arts and cultural institutions including Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Lantern Theater Company, and Darlington Arts Center.

CCSA's revenue model is a hybrid of public per-pupil reimbursement from the Chester Upland School District (noted by the school itself as approximately 50% below per-pupil amounts in affluent districts), supplemented by $600,000 in annual contributions from the separately governed CCSA Foundation, Title I federal funding, a $1.1 million three-year 21st Century grant, and an active $10 million endowment campaign ("CCSA: From K Through Life") that has raised $4.3 million to date. The 2016 campus bonds were upgraded to BBB-/Stable (investment grade) by S&P in December 2024, and the school received a five-year charter renewal through November 30, 2029. CCSA charges no tuition and serves as the only K-12 school in Chester, with measurable academic outcomes including a 98% graduation rate, 95% attendance rate, and first-grade reading proficiency improvement from 25% to 77% since 2012.

Name

Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS

Legal name

Chester Charter Scholars Academy

Website

https://ccsascholars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chester Charter Scholars Academy is a non-profit K-12 arts-integrated public charter school in Chester, Pennsylvania, serving approximately 695 Chester Upland School District students tuition-free through a lottery-based enrollment system with 600 on its waitlist.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Arts & Performing Arts Schools (EDAJACAH)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• Arts integrated curriculum
• K-12 public education
• College preparatory programs
• Community based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: Public charter school receives per-student reimbursement from school district, approximately 50% below per-student amount in affluent districts. Additional state and federal funding including Title I federal funding.
2. CCSA Foundation Donations: Annual support of $600,000 from CCSA Foundation invested directly in operations and programs. Funded through individual donors, corporate matching, and EITC program.
3. Endowment Campaign: $10 million endowment campaign (CCSA: From K Through Life) to provide permanent financial stability. Currently raised $4.3 million towards goal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chester Charter Scholars Academy operates a tuition-free K-12 public charter school delivering arts-integrated education that combines five arts disciplines (visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and dance) with core academic subjects (reading, writing, math, science, social studies). Students are admitted through a lottery-based open enrollment system with priority for Chester Upland School District residents, and the school offers specialized programs including high school arts majors, dual enrollment college credit through Delaware County Community College, a Health Sciences Elective Program, and after-school STEAM programming.

Product overview

Chester Charter Scholars Academy is an arts-integrated K-12 public charter school offering a comprehensive educational program. The core offering consists of an arts-integrated curriculum combining five arts disciplines (visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and dance) with traditional academic subjects. The school provides specialized programs including a 21st Century Out-of-School Time STEAM program, Dr. Barbara Klock Health Sciences Elective Program, Math Lab & Intervention, and Athletics. High school students can select arts majors while earning college credits through a partnership with Delaware County Community College. The school serves 695 students from Chester Upland School District and surrounding areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arts Integration Curriculum An integrated educational approach combining five artistic disciplines (visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and dance) with traditional classroom subjects including reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Designed for K-12 students seeking arts-enriched education.
• Arts Majors Program High school program in which students select two arts disciplines as majors (theatre, dance, visual art, digital art, vocal music, or instrumental music) for intensive focus each year. Available to CCSA high school students.
• Core Academic Curriculum Comprehensive K-12 academic curriculum covering Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies, including post-secondary planning and dual enrollment through Delaware County Community College for college credit. Designed for CCSA K-12 students.
• 21st Century Out-of-School Time STEAM Program Grant-funded program providing before-school, after-school, and weekend STEAM sessions including math problem solving, entrepreneurship, coding, theatre improvisation, and scientific experimentation for CCSA students.
• Dr. Barbara Klock Health Sciences Elective Program (HSEP) Career-oriented high school elective program partnering with Health Career Academy (Main Line Health, Aetna) providing healthcare mentorships, internships, and on-campus classroom training. Available to CCSA high school students interested in healthcare careers.
• Math Lab & Intervention Specialized math intervention program offering one-on-one and small group instruction housed in dedicated 'Math House' modular units. Available to CCSA elementary students needing math support.
• Athletics Programs Competitive sports programs including indoor track, track & field, cross country, basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading for high school and middle school CCSA students, with PIAA-aligned competition through Bicentennial Athletic League membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% graduation rate vs 60% at Chester traditional high school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pennsylvania BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop students' understanding of dance technique and professional dance community demands. Curriculum guides written for classroom/arts teachers to integrate performances with school curriculum. Free vouchers provided for teachers and families to attend performances. Reaches each grade level with scaffolding for next experience on yearly cycle.
• Health Career Collaborative (Main Line Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Sciences Elective Program giving high school students opportunity to work with local healthcare professionals through mentorships and internships. Eugene M. Lang Center for Health Sciences on campus provides two classrooms for on-campus training. Founded by Main Line Health and supported by Aetna.
• Lantern Theater CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnriches CCSA Theatre program through on-campus instructional support. Students study literature and plays in production at the Lantern and attend full-scale theatre performances. Teaching artists give master classes for high school theatre majors.
• Philadelphia Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital resources from Education Division supplement core subject lesson plans. Lessons integrate materials from PMA's Permanent Collections and Special Exhibitions. Art On Location program provides opportunities for students to visit special exhibitions.
• Swarthmore Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to realize student-designed Service Learning projects in Chester. Volunteer 'Storytellers' for Reading Beach Club nurture early passion for reading. Provided gallery space for student artwork exhibition.
• Darlington Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly a decade of partnership providing exposure to arts through performance opportunities, guest artists, and cultural field trips. Chester Theater Arts Program brings music, dance, and drama training annually to 100 students aged 5-18 on CCSA campus every Saturday.
• BalletXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents visit BalletX studios for dress rehearsals followed by Q&A sessions. Company dancers conduct master class visits to CCSA dance studio.
• Tyler ArboretumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents in grades 3-5 participate in multiple visits annually for thematically focused science curriculum including ecology, environmental studies, plant and animal life cycles, vocabulary, and Lenape Nation culture and history.
• Greener PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates gardening (plant parts and life cycle), nutrition (healthy eating), and science (soil ecology) lessons for elementary students. Plans to expand through middle school focusing on environmental science and justice.
• Community Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents from all grade levels participate in focused sessions with teaching artists. Contributed to developing ceramics program available for middle and high school art majors.
• ArtSmartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly private 30-minute voice lessons for 10 middle and high school students taught by professional voice teaching artists. Goals developed through collaboration between teaching artist and student.
• Arden Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddle and high school students participate in multiple field trips to see theatrical performances each year.
• Delaware County Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allows high school students to earn college credits through dual enrollment courses, developing skills required for transition to post-secondary education.
• Whitsons Culinary GroupminorOthersProvides fresh nutritious breakfasts and lunches for students, including during remote learning periods. Meals available for pick up at CCSA.
• Philadelphia Union FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through iAM program connecting students with corporate partners for career exploration. 11th graders hear inspirational speakers and engage in career workshops.
• Chester Fire Department Fire Explorers ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational experience outlining effective emergency response strategies and career paths within the fire service field.
• Chester Community CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining high school students in mental health first aid to help recognize warning signs among peers.
• Bicentennial Athletic LeaguecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCSA Athletics joined the Bicentennial Athletic League for PIAA sports participation, enabling competitive athletics against other schools in the region.
• Clothes QuartersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved uniform vendor where families can purchase required CCSA uniforms. Located at 521 MacDade Boulevard, Folsom.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mastery Charter Schools: Multi-campus Philadelphia-area K-12 charter network serving similar urban populations. Directly comparable as a fellow Chester/Philadelphia operator with same demographic challenges and same Pennsylvania charter policy framework.
• Uncommon Schools: Multi-state K-12 charter network focused on urban college-prep education. Comparable operating model with similar mission-driven, outcomes-focused approach serving low-income urban students.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: New York City K-12 charter network with rigorous academic programs. Comparable as an urban charter serving similar demographics with strong outcomes and parent demand creating waitlists.
• Green Dot Public Schools: Multi-state charter management organization serving urban high school populations. Comparable business model with similar autonomy, accountability, and underfunded-per-pupil challenges.
• KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools: Network of Philadelphia K-12 charter schools serving similar urban, low-income demographics. Operates under the same Pennsylvania charter framework with comparable per-pupil funding dynamics and lottery-based enrollment.
• Universal Charter Schools (Philadelphia): Philadelphia K-8 charter school network with similar portfolio. Directly comparable as a Philadelphia-area single-network charter operator serving similar demographics.
• Achievement First: Multi-state charter school network with strong outcomes focus. Comparable as a rapidly scaling urban charter network with similar academic-results-driven model and public funding model.
• BASIS Charter Schools: National charter network known for top-tier academic outcomes. Comparable as a high-performing charter network with rigorous curriculum and strong college placement results.
• Russell Byers Charter School: Philadelphia K-8 charter school with an arts-integrated educational approach. Comparable as a single-site urban charter with arts focus serving similar demographics in the same Philadelphia region.
• Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School: Philadelphia K-8 charter school with similar model and demographics. Directly comparable as a Philadelphia-area public charter school focused on closing achievement gaps through specialized programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/ccsafoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/CCSARocks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chester-charter-scholars-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS