Kuumba Academy Charter School

What Kuumba Academy Charter School does

Kuumba Academy Charter School (KACS) is a tuition-free public charter school located at 1200 North French Street in Wilmington, Delaware, serving approximately 600 students in grades K-8. Founded in 1999 and operational since 2001, the school operates under a charter from the Delaware Department of Education and is the first Delaware school to formally partner a public charter with a nonprofit community organization, Christina Cultural Arts Center (CCAC). Its core academic program combines the state-approved EL Education (Expeditionary Learning) curriculum with a proprietary arts-integration model across all content areas, including the only elementary dance curriculum in the region, delivered by 28 homeroom teachers supported by teaching artists in small class settings.

The student body is 91.1% African American and 7.3% Hispanic/Latino, with 84.7% of students from low-income households. Technology integration includes SMART Boards in all classrooms, student computers and laptops (K-2: one device per four students; grades 3-8: one laptop per two students), and iPads in grades 4-5 funded via a University of Delaware grant. Assessment systems include NWEA MAP computerized progress monitoring administered at least three times annually, STEP reading assessments for grades K-4, and SBAC testing. The school also operates a School-Based Health Center through a partnership with the Delaware Health Empowerment Coalition, providing behavioral health, physical exam, and nutrition counseling services on-site.

Revenue mechanics rely on Delaware per-pupil charter funding (charter schools receive approximately 27% less than traditional public districts per source), supplemented by federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding for the six-week summer program and after-school program serving 250+ unduplicated students annually, Title I federal support, McKinney-Vento homeless education funding, Special Education allocations, and private donations/grants via the School Legacy Project and PayPal. Programs include core K-8 academics, Before/Aftercare (7:30 AM-6:00 PM), a six-week summer enrichment program, Special Education, McKinney-Vento homeless support, and Title I services. The go-to-market model is direct-to-family via the Delaware School Choice enrollment program supplemented by Touring Tuesdays, Open House events, the Ujima Weekly newsletter, and local earned media coverage. Leadership is headed by CEO Dr. Natakie T. Chestnut-Lee and COO Sally Maldonado, with governance provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Herbert F. Broadwater II and including the Executive Director of founding partner CCAC (H. Raye Jones-Avery) as VP of Governance.

Name

Kuumba Academy Charter School

Legal name

Kuumba Academy Charter School

Website

https://kuumbaacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tuition-free public charter school in Wilmington, Delaware, serving approximately 600 K-8 students through an arts-integrated EL Education curriculum, delivered by 28 homeroom teachers as a CCAC/nonprofit partnership with supplementary OST, summer, health, and federal-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Montessori/Waldorf/Classical/Expeditionary (Pedagogical Models) (EDAJACAL), Charter Alternative & At-Risk Schools (Continuation, Credit Recovery, Juvenile) (EDAJACAE), Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• K-8 public education
• Arts integration curriculum
• Expeditionary learning
• School choice enrollment

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: As a public charter school, Kuumba Academy receives per-pupil funding from the state of Delaware. Charter schools receive significantly less funding than traditional public schools—27% less on average.
2. Private Donations and Grants: The school actively seeks donations through the School Legacy Project, PayPal, and mail donations. Donations help fund programs, facility needs, and resources/materials.
3. 21st Century Community Learning Centers Funding: Partnership with 21st CCLC provides funding for the 6-week summer program and after school program, serving over 250 unduplicated students per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kuumba Academy Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school delivering K-8 education to approximately 600 students in Wilmington, Delaware, through the EL Education Expeditionary Learning curriculum combined with a distinctive arts integration model. The school operates with 28 homeroom teachers in small class sizes and supplements its core academics with before/after care, a 6-week summer program, special education services, and a school-based health center. It is the only area school offering an elementary dance curriculum and was the first Delaware charter school partnered with a nonprofit community organization (Christina Cultural Arts Center).

Product overview

Kuumba Academy Charter School (KACS) is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in grades K-8 in Wilmington, Delaware. The school operates as a unified educational platform combining core academics with extensive supplementary programs. The central offering is the K-8 Core Academic Program following EL Education's Expeditionary Learning model with arts integration, delivered by 28 homeroom teachers to 600 students in small class sizes. Supporting this core are add-on programs including Before and After School care (OST), a 6-week Summer Enrichment Program, Beforecare and Aftercare options, Special Education Services, and Title I academic support. The school also provides a School-Based Health Center for wellness services and McKinney-Vento support for homeless students. All programs are unified by the school's arts-integrated philosophy and character development curriculum based on the Nguzo Saba principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Core Academic Program Comprehensive kindergarten through eighth grade educational program following the EL Education Expeditionary Learning model with arts integration, serving 600 students with 28 homeroom teachers in small class sizes. Includes full-day kindergarten, longer school day (8:05 AM-3:55 PM), and character development instruction based on the Nguzo Saba principles. Tuition-free for families.
• Before and After School Program (OST)

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 600 students in grades K-8 with 28 homeroom teachers, maintaining small class sizes for individualized attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christina Cultural Arts Center (CCAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCAC is the founding partner that collaborated with parents and community supporters to create KACS in 2001. KACS was the first school model in Delaware partnering a public charter school with a nonprofit community organization. The CCAC/KACS model is regarded as the single most significant achievement in Wilmington's post public school desegregation history. Through the innovative union of academics, arts, technology, and family engagement, each student's individual learning style is nurtured.
• Community Education Building (CEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEB provides facility space for KACS and other Wilmington schools. The building serves as a catalyst for quality education in the City of Wilmington with the goal of driving improved education across the State. CEB also supports the School-Based Health Center through its partnership with the Delaware Health Empowerment Coalition.
• Reading Assist InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to children with significant reading challenges, teaching foundational skills and empowering them to succeed academically. Has helped thousands of struggling readers through evidence-based, multi-sensory, structured approach to literacy education.
• Delaware Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education partnership providing cultural enrichment opportunities for students.
• Delaware Health Empowerment CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership made possible through Community Education Building to provide School-Based Health Center services. Students have access to behavioral health support, physical exams, nutrition counseling, and more health services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kuumba-academy-charter-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Kuumba Academy Charter School