International School for Science and Culture

What International School for Science and Culture does

International School for Science and Culture (ISSAC) is a tuition-free public charter school founded in 2019 in Costa Mesa, California, serving transitional kindergarten through 8th grade students (approximately ages 4-14). Authorized by the Orange County Department of Education and operated by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ISSAC delivers free public education primarily to families in Orange County while accepting open enrollment from any district in California, with priority given to Newport-Mesa Unified School District residents. The school's core curriculum combines STREAM instruction (Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), daily trilingual language education in English, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, and Spanish, and a Social Emotional Learning framework, delivered through small class sizes averaging 22 students with a maximum of 25.

ISSAC's instructional model centers on six annual project-based learning units covering Goal Setting, Environment, Peace & Human Rights, Human Health, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Multiculturalism, an approach explicitly grounded in John Dewey and Tsunesaburo Makiguchi's value-creation paradigm. Differentiated learning is implemented through flexible grouping and rotational centers that accommodate Special Education, English Learners, and GATE students, supported by G Suite for Education for blended online instruction. The school uses established third-party content platforms (STEMscopes, Wit & Wisdom, McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies, Better Chinese, Sing & Speak) and integrates parent-teacher communication via Class Dojo. A music program, developed in partnership with Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, complements the academic curriculum.

ISSAC's revenue derives primarily from California per-pupil apportionment tied to average daily attendance, supplemented by 501(c)(3) donations processed via Stripe and PayPal and a donation-based before/after school program covering 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. With a team of 13 employees, the school operates a primary campus at 1770 Tustin Avenue and is opening a second site at 1701 Baker Ave, both in Costa Mesa. Enrollment runs through a January-February open enrollment window followed by a public lottery, and the school received a 3-year WASC Initial Accreditation covering 2024-2027. There is no evidence of venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment in the organization.

Name

International School for Science and Culture

Legal name

ISSAC Charter School

Website

https://issaccharter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International School for Science and Culture is a tuition-free public charter school in Costa Mesa, California, serving TK-8th grade students with STREAM curriculum, daily trilingual instruction in English, Mandarin or Japanese, and Spanish, project-based learning, and a Social Emotional Learning framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, ISSAC receives per-pupil funding from California state and local sources based on average daily attendance.
2. Donations and Fundraising: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on donations from families, friends, and community organizations to deepen curriculum and broaden learning experiences. Accepts donations via Stripe and PayPal.
3. Before/After School Program: Donation-based before and after school program covering hours from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ISSAC is a tuition-free public charter school serving TK through 8th grade students in Costa Mesa, California. The school delivers an integrated curriculum combining STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), daily trilingual instruction in English, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, and Spanish, and a Social Emotional Learning framework delivered through six annual project-based learning themes.

Product overview

International School for Science and Culture (ISSAC) is a public charter school serving TK-8th grade students with an integrated educational program. The school operates a unified curriculum combining STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), Trilingual Education (English, Mandarin/Japanese, Spanish), and Social Emotional Learning as its core pillars. Project-Based Learning drives student engagement through six annual projects focused on global citizenship, environmental responsibility, human rights, health, entrepreneurship, and multiculturalism. The school differentiates instruction through flexible grouping and rotational classroom models, supporting Special Education, English Learners, and GATE students. Additional offerings include a Full-Day TK/K Program, Music Program partnered with Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, Before/After School Program, and integrated arts education. ISSAC maintains small class sizes (target of 22-25 students) and offers free tuition for all TK-8th grade students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STREAM Program Core academic program developing students as innovative lifelong learners and independent thinkers through Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Uses STEMscopes for science and math, Wit & Wisdom for English language arts, and McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies for social studies.
• Trilingual Education Daily instruction in Mandarin Chinese (or Japanese), Spanish, and English following a Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) model. Uses Better Chinese for Mandarin, Sing & Speak for Spanish, and auxiliary materials aligned to CABE Key Characteristics of Quality Language Learning.
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Daily curriculum component teaching conversations for action, self-inventing (goal setting and virtue/power development), giving and receiving feedback, speculative conversations, and navigating breakdowns to empower students to consciously design their character and commitments.
• Project-Based Learning Educational approach rooted in John Dewey and Tsunesaburo Makiguchi's value creation paradigm in which students complete six annual projects: Goal Setting, Environment, Peace & Human Rights, Human Health, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Multiculturalism.
• Full-Day TK/K Program Full-day Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten program for children who turn 4 or 5 by September 1st, with an optional half-day option from 8 AM to 12 PM daily.
• Differentiated Learning Flexible grouping and rotational classroom model that adjusts groupings based on individual student needs through a daily structured 45-minute period, supporting Special Education, English Learners, and GATE students.
• Music Program Music education program partnered with Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, including band instruction and integration of performing arts within foreign language classes.
• Before/After School Program Donation-based childcare program covering non-school hours from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, available to all enrolled students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Class average size of 22 students (maximum 25 per class)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Soka UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Soka University students conduct weekly visits to ISSAC as part of their program to educate and engage with students.
• Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra (PAFO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partnership for music program development and performances. ISSAC performed together with PAFO at the PAFO Holiday Concert in December 2023, with funds raised supporting ISSAC's music program.
• Eastside Living MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2023Featured in February 2023 East Living Spotlight article titled 'International School for Science and Culture' by Julie Leah, highlighting trilingual language program and global citizenship mission.
• Eastside LivingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2023Charity Spotlight article featuring ISSAC's project-based learning program where students studied cholera and clean water access.
• Orange County Department of EducationcoreOthers · 1 January 2019Authorizing body for ISSAC charter school. ISSAC is authorized by OCDE and serves students from Newport-Mesa Unified School District and all of California.
• California Charter Schools Association (CCSA)minorOthers · 1 January 2019Professional membership organization for charter schools in California.
• Corporate Sponsors (Singha, Morinaga America, Asahi Bev, Riis Skincare, Goshiki Printing, Sanyo Foods America, Sakura Radio, Creampan, Myoju USA, Uroko Cafe, Sleek Salon Spa, Nach Ewral Pet, Novavita Foundation, Taste of JPN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious corporate sponsors supporting ISSAC through Friends of ISSAC program, providing donations and support for cultural and educational programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KIPP SoCal Public Schools: Large charter network operating multiple TK-8 and K-12 campuses across Southern California. Comparable as a publicly funded, multi-campus charter operator targeting underserved families with extended-school-day programming, though at significantly greater scale and without ISSAC's trilingual or STREAM specialization.
• Da Vinci Schools: California charter network operating TK-12 schools with interdisciplinary, project-based, and career-focused programming. Comparable in project-based and STREAM-adjacent pedagogy, though Da Vinci's emphasis on career technical education distinguishes it from ISSAC's trilingual focus.
• Aspire Public Schools: California-based charter network operating TK-12 schools focused on college preparation for low-income students. Comparable as a public charter operator with a differentiated college-prep mission, but serves a much broader geography and population than ISSAC's single Orange County campus.
• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools: Los Angeles-area charter network operating TK-12 campuses with a college-prep focus. Comparable as a California public charter operator with small-school models, though without ISSAC's trilingual or STREAM curriculum differentiation.

Regional players

• Larchmont Charter School: Los Angeles-based TK-6 charter school emphasizing progressive, project-based education and small class sizes. Comparable in progressive pedagogical approach and small-class model, though geographically separate from ISSAC's Orange County market.

Direct peers

• Citizens of the World Charter Schools: California charter network with explicit emphasis on diversity, biliteracy, and socio-emotional learning. Strongest direct peer given shared focus on multilingualism, SEL, and small class sizes, though operates primarily in the Los Angeles area.
• Magnolia Public Schools: California-based public charter network with a STEM-focused mission serving TK-12 students. Closest curriculum analog to ISSAC's STREAM emphasis, though operates across multiple Southern California sites and emphasizes STEM rather than trilingual immersion.
• iLEAD Schools: California charter network offering project-based, learner-centered education across multiple campuses. Comparable in its emphasis on project-based learning and small-class pedagogy, though broader in scope than ISSAC and without trilingual specialization.

Emerging players

• Caliber Schools: Bay Area TK-8 charter network built around 'mindful education' with explicit SEL integration and small class sizes. Comparable for its SEL-centered differentiation similar to ISSAC's SEL framework, though operates in Northern California.

Others

• Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) Schools: Traditional public school district within which ISSAC operates and from which it draws priority enrollment. Listed as adjacent context rather than competitor since ISSAC is itself a charter authorized by OCDE but serves overlapping NMUSD-resident families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@issaccharter4244
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISSACcharter
• Instagraminstagram.com/issaccharter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-school-for-science-and-culture

Compliance2 records

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 International School for Science and Culture