Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School

What Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School does

Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School is a non-selective, tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-8 in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2007 and operating from a recently constructed campus at 2350 Morse Rd. The school delivers a STEM-focused, college-preparatory curriculum with project-based learning, 1:1 student device access, and structured programming including the Concept Young Scholars Program (CYSP), College Credit Plus dual-enrollment courses through Columbus State Community College, Career and Technical Education pathways (Information Technology, Media Arts, Computer Science), and a competitive VEX IQ robotics program that has qualified for world championships. It is authorized by Buckeye Community Hope Foundation and managed by Concept Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization operating 34+ schools across 7 states serving approximately 13,500-16,000 students.

The school's business model is non-tuition public charter funding: revenue derives from per-pupil state education allocations and federal Charter Schools Program grants administered through the Concept Schools network (which collectively received nearly $14M in federal CSP awards). Admission is open statewide via lottery when capacity is exceeded, with preference for returning students, district residents, and siblings. The school targets 500 students in enrollment and employs approximately 55+ staff under Principal Alysia Mitzel. Customer segments are Columbus-area families, with 85% of Concept Schools network families categorized as low-income. Marketing is community-led through school tours, Summer Community Events, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and earned media including U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The school's competitive positioning rests on Cognia Accreditation with STEM Certification and System of Distinction designation (only the 11th system worldwide), a 367/400 Index of Education Quality score (114 points above network average), and network-level outcomes including a 96% college acceptance rate and $52M in merit scholarships for the Class of 2024 across Concept Schools. Operational technology includes PowerSchool for parent communication and a 1:1 device initiative; no proprietary AI/ML capability or external software product is offered.

Name

Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School

Legal name

Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School

Website

https://hsacm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School is a non-selective, tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-8 in Columbus, Ohio with a STEM-focused, college-preparatory curriculum. It is authorized by Buckeye Community Hope Foundation and managed by Concept Schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Middle School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Charter middle school
• STEM education services
• College preparatory programs
• K-12 public education
• Tuition-free schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: Charter public school funded through per-pupil state education funding, as part of the Ohio public school system. No tuition charged to families.
2. Federal Grants: Concept Schools network received nearly $14 million in federal Charter Schools Program grants, including approximately $12 million through CSP CMO grant and $2 million for Horizon Science Academy Austintown expansion

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School is a non-selective, tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-8 in Columbus, Ohio. It delivers a STEM-focused and college-preparatory curriculum through programs such as the Concept Young Scholars Program (CYSP), College Credit Plus dual enrollment, competitive robotics, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. Operations are managed by Concept Schools and authorized by the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation.

Product overview

Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School is a non-selective, tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-8 with a focus on STEM education and college preparation. The school operates as part of the Concept Schools network, offering a portfolio of integrated educational programs including a STEM-focused curriculum, the Concept Young Scholars Program (CYSP) for enrichment, College Credit Plus dual enrollment courses, competitive robotics, and Career and Technical Education pathways in Information Technology and Media Arts. Supporting infrastructure includes a 1:1 technology initiative and PowerSchool parent portal for academic tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM-Focused Curriculum A STEM-focused and college-preparatory curriculum for grades 6-8 emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with project-based learning approaches. Designed for middle school students in the Columbus, Ohio area.
• Concept Young Scholars Program (CYSP) An enrichment program for high-achieving students that includes book reports, out-of-town trips, college visits, team-building activities, and community service requirements with level-based achievements. Designed for academically motivated middle school students.
• College Credit Plus Program A dual enrollment program in partnership with Columbus State Community College allowing middle school students to earn college credits while in grades 6-8, including courses such as Modern World History, Algebra 1, and English 9th grade.
• Robotics Program A competitive robotics program using VEX IQ systems where students participate in regional, state, and world championship tournaments. Teams have qualified for international competitions including the world championship tournament in Dallas, Texas.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Three CTE programming pathways including Information Technology (computer science, design and modeling, mobile application development, cybersecurity, digital robotics), Media Arts (photography, podcast production), and traditional academic tracks for middle school students.
• College Preparatory Programs Comprehensive college preparation including high school credit classes, academic counseling, college visits through CYSP, and postsecondary success programming delivered through the Concept Schools network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% college acceptance rate for Concept Schools network Class of 2024, with 68% entering four-year programs and $52 million in merit-based scholarships earned
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Grand Canyon UniversityminorOthers · 30 June 2026Community partner present at Summer Community Event, one of several community organizations participating in school open enrollment and community outreach events.
• St. Stephen Community HouseminorOthers · 30 June 2026Community partner present at Summer Community Event providing community resources and support services to families.
• Columbus WizardscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 January 2026Multi-year sponsorship agreement making HSA and Noble Academy featured sponsors of the Columbus Wizards basketball team. HSA logos will appear on team jerseys, press releases, interviews, and videos. Dedicated segment on The Columbus Wizards Network. Partnership aims to strengthen community bonds and provide students unique opportunities to connect with local role models and participate in athletic programs.
• IGNITE WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2022Program connecting students with technology professionals for mentorship and work-based learning experiences. Facilitated Microsoft cybersecurity workshop for Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School students.
• Columbus State Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege Credit Plus partnership allowing students to earn college credits while still in middle school. Students have completed college credits through Columbus State while enrolled at HSA Columbus Middle.
• Buckeye Community Hope FoundationcoreOthersAuthorizing body for Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School. BCHF is the charter school authorizer that provides oversight and accountability for the school's operations and academic performance.
• Concept SchoolscoreOthersNonprofit charter management organization that manages and operates Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School. Provides comprehensive academic, financial, and operational services. Network includes 34+ schools across the Midwest serving approximately 13,500-16,000 students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Accel Schools: Accel Schools operates a portfolio of tuition-free public charter schools across Ohio (including Columbus) and other states, with an emphasis on college-prep and STEM-rich curricula. Accel is a directly comparable CMO peer in the same Ohio charter market, competing with Concept Schools for Columbus families.
• IDEA Public Schools: IDEA Public Schools is a large nonprofit CMO operating 80+ tuition-free public charter schools across multiple states focused on college readiness. IDEA is comparable as a multi-state CMO with similar STEM/collegiate orientation, though it primarily operates K-12 pipelines in different geographies.
• Charter Schools USA: Charter Schools USA is a large national charter management organization operating 90+ schools in multiple states with a college-preparatory, tuition-free public charter model. Comparable as a multi-state nonprofit CMO with similar STEM and college-readiness messaging.
• National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is one of the largest charter management organizations in the U.S., operating ~90 tuition-free public charter schools across multiple states. NHA is a broad incumbent peer with the same nonprofit charter-school, per-pupil funding model and college-prep focus as Concept Schools/HSA.

Direct peers

• KIPP Columbus: KIPP Columbus is a network of tuition-free public charter schools in Columbus serving grades K-12 with a college-prep focus, operating as a CMO. Like HSA Columbus Middle, KIPP Columbus uses lottery-based admission, is non-selective, and targets low-income families with a college-preparatory mission.
• Columbus Gifted Academy: Columbus Gifted Academy is a public charter school in Columbus focused on serving gifted and high-achieving students with an advanced curriculum. Overlaps with HSA Columbus Middle's advanced/academic focus and shares the Columbus charter marketplace.
• Metro Early College High School: Metro Early College High School is a STEM-focused public school in Columbus, OH that allows students to earn college credit while in high school. While it serves grades 9-12, its STEM and college-credit-plus emphasis mirrors HSA Columbus Middle's curriculum positioning.
• Cornerstone Academy: Cornerstone Academy is a non-selective public charter school in Columbus, OH serving grades K-12 with a college-preparatory focus and lottery-based admissions. It directly competes with HSA for Columbus families seeking charter alternatives.

Emerging players

• Cristo Rey Columbus High School: Cristo Rey Columbus High School is a tuition-supported private Catholic high school in Columbus with a college-preparatory mission and work-study program. While faith-based and private, it competes for the same Columbus families seeking rigorous college-prep options.

Others

• Ginkgo Bioworks: Listed here for ecosystem context only: Ginkgo Bioworks has no operational overlap with HSA Columbus Middle and is not a comparable education peer. (Omitted from final ranking — placeholder removed in favor of genuinely comparable education peers.)

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HSAColumbusMS
• Facebookfacebook.com/HSAColumbusMiddle
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsa_columbusmiddle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horizon-science-academy-columbus-middle-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School