The Exploris School

What The Exploris School does

The Exploris School is a free, independent, public charter school serving grades K-8 in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, founded in 1997 and operated by The Exploris School Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-4851793). It delivers an experiential, project-based curriculum aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, organized around four pillars: Global Education, Project-Based Learning, Co-Teaching, and Responsive Classroom. The school operates two campuses — an Elementary School (K-5) at 17 S. Swain Street and a Middle School (6-8) at 401 Hillsborough Street — using downtown Raleigh as an extended classroom via partnerships with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, government buildings, and Outward Bound for the 8th grade wilderness capstone. Long-tenured international exchange programs with Shinonome Junior High School in Hiroshima (since 2000) and Jacob Ellrod Schule in GeFrees, Germany (since 2006) anchor the Global Education pillar.

Underlying technology is conventional K-12 tooling: Google Workspace (Classroom, Calendar, Forms) for instructional and operational workflows, Lotterease for lottery-based admissions management, Kindful for fundraising, and Jostens and MealViewer for ancillary services. The technology layer is functional but undifferentiated, with no proprietary AI, data, or platform assets. Admission is lottery-based and open to any North Carolina resident, with prospective families required to attend information sessions and student-led tours before applying.

The revenue model is hybrid public-nonprofit. Primary funding is per-pupil allocations from local, state, and federal sources (including Title I federal funding for economically disadvantaged students), supplemented by The Exploris School Foundation's Annual Fund and corporate matching gift programs (e.g., Home Depot, Lenovo, Microsoft). North Carolina law prohibits charter schools from charging tuition, so all educational services are free at point of use. The customer base is highly diversified at the family level, but revenue is structurally concentrated on public funding formulas; the go-to-market is event-driven (information sessions, campus tours, lottery cycle) rather than enterprise sales. Total reported headcount is approximately 45 employees across both campuses.

Name

The Exploris School

Legal name

The Exploris School

Website

https://exploris.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Exploris School is a free public K-8 charter school in downtown Raleigh, NC, serving North Carolina residents via lottery-based admissions. It delivers project-based, experiential education across two campuses under a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funded primarily by per-pupil allocations and Title I.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• K-8 charter school
• Project-based learning
• Global education exchanges
• Public elementary education
• Middle school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: As a public charter school, primary funding comes from local, state, and federal tax dollars based on student enrollment (per-pupil funding)
2. Donations and Annual Fund: The Exploris School Foundation operates an Annual Fund as the primary fundraising effort each school year, supporting teachers, staff, and community programs. Tax-deductible donations accepted via check, stock, or online through Kindful platform.
3. Title I Funding: Federal Title I funding for supporting economically disadvantaged students
4. Corporate Matching: Corporate gift matching programs where employers match employee donations (e.g., Home Depot, Lenovo up to $25,000, Microsoft up to $15,000)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Exploris School is a free, independent public charter school serving grades K-8 in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, with admission by lottery open to any North Carolina resident. It delivers experiential, project-based learning aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study across two campuses, organized around four core pillars: Global Education, Project-Based Learning, Co-Teaching, and Responsive Classroom. Programs include the core K-5 and 6-8 academic curricula, international student exchanges with Japan and Germany, an Explorations enrichment program, before/after school care, and an 8th-grade Outward Bound wilderness capstone.

Product overview

The Exploris School is a single, unified K-8 charter school offering a free public education with admission via lottery. The school operates two campuses (Elementary K-5 and Middle School 6-8) in downtown Raleigh, NC, built around four core pillars: Global Education, Project-Based Learning, Co-Teaching, and Responsive Classroom. Programs include the Elementary and Middle School curricula, Global Partnerships with Japan and Germany, the Explorations enrichment program, Before/After School Care, and the 8th Grade Outward Bound wilderness capstone. All programs are integrated under the unified mission of empowering learners to improve the world through experiential, project-based education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Charter School Education Free, independent, public charter school education serving grades K-8 with admission by lottery open to any North Carolina resident; curriculum aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and built on four pillars: Global Education, Project-Based Learning, Co-Teaching, and Responsive Classroom.
• Elementary School Program (K-5) Elementary education program for grades K-5 at the 17 S. Swain Street campus, M-F 8:30am-3:15pm, integrating Global Education, Project-Based Learning, Co-Teaching, and Responsive Classroom.
• Middle School Program (6-8) Middle school education program for grades 6-8 at the 401 Hillsborough Street campus, M-F 8:15am-3:15pm, focused on interdisciplinary expeditions, Outward Bound wilderness experiences, and high-school transition preparation.
• Global Partnerships and Exchange Programs International student exchange programs with Shinonome Junior High School in Hiroshima, Japan (since 2000) and Jacob Ellrod Schule in GeFrees, Germany (since 2006), involving cultural exchanges, home stays, and collaborative student projects on global issues.
• Explorations Enrichment Program Weekly K-5 enrichment program with six-week modules in service learning, new skills, and community engagement, taught by community volunteer instructors.
• Before and After School Care Extended care service for enrolled students before and after regular instructional hours, with annual registration and payment processed via PayPal.
• 8th Grade Wilderness Experience Five-day wilderness capstone for 8th graders delivered in partnership with the North Carolina Outward Bound School, developing outdoor skills, leadership, and peer relationships before high school.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2024-25 School Report Card Grade: B (70)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jacob Ellrod Schule (GeFrees, Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Exchange program developed in 2006 when Exploris faculty traveled to Germany with Goethe Institute. Schools alternate hosting every two years. German students immerse in American life for 3 weeks; Exploris students live with German hosts, attend school daily, and explore German culture and history.
• Shinonome Junior High School (Hiroshima, Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Exchange program began in 2000 as part of ongoing collaboration between Eastern Carolina University and Hiroshima University. Exploris students and teachers travel to Hiroshima in spring; Japanese delegation visits Raleigh every August. Students participate in home stays, cultural visits, collaborative projects on global issues including water quality and world peace.
• Communities In SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed. Affiliated organization providing dropout prevention and student support services.
• Design for ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit empowering students to exercise their voice and take action on issues they care about. Exploris students participate in Design for Change cohorts.
• Inter-Faith Food ShuttleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit addressing hunger through food rescue and distribution. Partnership for service learning and community engagement.
• NC StemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Carolina collaborative supporting STEM education initiatives and girls in STEM.
• North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborations with NC Museum of Natural Sciences for expeditions, field experiences, and science education programs. Museum used as extended classroom.
• Outward BoundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner8th grade students participate in 5-day wilderness experience with NC Outward Bound School as capstone of their Exploris experience. Develops outdoor skills, leadership, and peer relationships.
• Saint Saviour's CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization serving downtown Raleigh; partnership for community engagement and service learning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of public charter schools known for rigorous, project- and content-rich curricula. Comparable to Exploris in delivering a differentiated, standards-aligned charter school program that competes for selective families.
• Uncommon Schools: Nonprofit charter management organization running college-preparatory public schools. Comparable to Exploris as a mission-driven charter school network serving under-resourced communities.
• National Heritage Academies: Charter management organization operating K-8 public charter schools under a defined curriculum and moral focus framework. Comparable to Exploris as a charter school running on public funding with a branded educational model.
• KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program): National network of public charter schools serving K-12 with a mission-driven, college-preparatory focus. Highly comparable to Exploris as a charter school built on a defined educational philosophy and operating on public per-pupil funding.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large charter school network operating free public schools with a structured academic model. Comparable to Exploris as a free public charter school dependent on lottery admissions and per-pupil funding.
• Charter Schools USA: One of the largest charter school management organizations in the U.S., operating elementary and secondary charter schools. Comparable to Exploris as a free public charter school operator funded by per-pupil allocations.
• Democracy Prep Public Schools: Charter school network with a civic- and character-driven educational model. Comparable to Exploris in marrying public charter funding with a defined social-emotional and community-engagement curriculum.

Regional players

• Quest Academy: Charter school serving K-8 students with a project- and inquiry-based curriculum. Comparable to Exploris in its K-8 grade span and experiential-learning approach, though operating in a different geography.
• Endeavor Charter School: NC-based K-8 public charter school in the Research Triangle area. Comparable to Exploris as a same-state charter competitor drawing from the same North Carolina per-pupil pool and applicant families.

Emerging players

• Citizen Schools: Nonprofit expanding learning time through apprenticeships and real-world projects in middle schools. Thematically comparable to Exploris's project-based middle school model and Outward Bound capstone, though it partners with existing schools rather than operating as a charter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exploris-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 The Exploris School