North Star Academy

What North Star Academy does

North Star Academy is a public charter school located at 16700 Keystone Blvd. in Parker, Colorado, serving 684 students in grades K-8 for the 2024-25 academic year (477 elementary, 207 middle school). Founded in 2006 by a parent group seeking a more rigorous program, the school operates under authorization from Douglas County School District RE-1 with charter renewal due in 2029. The school delivers Core Knowledge curriculum (E.D. Hirsch), Saxon Math one grade level ahead, and a nationally recognized character education program (2013 National School of Character). Daily Spanish instruction begins in Kindergarten and uses Comprehensible Input (CI) and TPRS methodology, with additional German instruction in upper grades. A tuition-based Pre-K program was added in fall 2018, capped at 30 students with an 8:1 ratio. The student body is diverse, with 27 languages spoken and demographic mix of 64% White, 15% Asian/Pacific Islander, 11% Hispanic/Latino, 2% Black/African American, and 8% Other, with 9% English Language Learners.

The school is funded primarily through per-pupil revenue (PPR) from Douglas County School District, with approximately 17% of PPR allocated to facility costs on the 4.8-acre campus. K-8 enrollment is tuition-free; Pre-K charges $390-$515/month plus a $75 enrollment fee and $200 supply fee. Additional revenue streams include NSA Foundation fundraising (~$150K goal, $196K raised in 2023-24), corporate sponsorships, the King Soopers Community Rewards program (~$25K annually), and ancillary paid services including Homework Club ($15/session), Morning Club ($10/session), summer sports camps (~$125 for volleyball), and Birthday Marquee Messages ($25). Lottery-based enrollment prioritizes Douglas County residents and siblings of current students, with a waitlist that suggests demand exceeds supply.

The operational technology stack is modest and entirely off-the-shelf: Edlio for the website CMS, Infinite Campus for parent/student information, MySchoolBucks for lunch payments, Nutrislice for menus, Track It Forward for volunteer management, and Google Forms for enrollment workflows. Leadership is led by Principal Kendra Hossfeld (a co-founder in the Principal role since 2014), CFO Heidi Thompson, and a five-member volunteer Board of Directors with professional backgrounds in accounting, law, and commerce. The school employs 176 staff and competes in the Front Range Charter League for athletics.

Name

North Star Academy

Legal name

North Star Academy

Website

https://nstaracademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

North Star Academy is a tuition-free K-8 public charter school in Parker, Colorado, serving 684 students with Core Knowledge curriculum, daily Spanish instruction starting in Kindergarten, character education, and athletics, funded by per-pupil public revenue and foundation fundraising.

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

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• K-8 charter school
• Core Knowledge curriculum
• Public charter education
• Spanish language instruction
• Structured math program

Headquarters

HQ city

Parker

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: As a charter school of Douglas County School District, NSA receives per-pupil revenue (PPR) from public funding. The school reserves approximately 17% of PPR for facility costs (building and 4.8 acres of land).
2. Pre-Kindergarten Tuition: NSA operates a tuition-based Pre-K program. Tuition is invoiced monthly with options for Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday PM sessions ($390/month) or Monday-Friday AM sessions ($515/month). Additional fees include $75 enrollment fee and $200 supply fee upon acceptance.
3. Donations and Fundraising: NSA Foundation manages annual fundraising efforts targeting $150,000 annually for technology, school safety, and staff appreciation/retention. Historical fundraising: $196,000 (2023-24), $150,000 (2022-23), $178,000 (2021-22), $179,000 (2020-21). King Soopers Community Rewards program historically nets approximately $25,000 annually.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities through the NSA Foundation with various sponsorship levels. Sponsors gain visibility through school events including Trunk or Treat (300+ families) and Veterans Day celebrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North Star Academy is a tuition-free K-8 public charter school in Parker, Colorado, authorized by Douglas County School District RE-1, that delivers a knowledge-rich Core Knowledge Sequence curriculum combined with Saxon Math and daily Spanish language instruction. It also offers a tuition-based Pre-K program. The school enrolls approximately 684 students across kindergarten through eighth grade for the 2024-25 academic year.

Product overview

North Star Academy is a K-8 public charter school offering educational services from Pre-K through 8th grade. The school provides a comprehensive academic program including Core Knowledge curriculum, intensive Spanish language instruction starting in Kindergarten, character education, and service learning. Additional programs include before/after-school care (Homework Club and Morning Club), summer sports camps (volleyball, soccer, basketball), after-school activities (music, chess, science, Soccer Shots), and a fundraising foundation. The school operates on a tuition-free model for K-8, with tuition-based Pre-K programs available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tuition-Free K-8 Education A tuition-free public charter school program serving kindergarten through eighth-grade students, delivered through the Core Knowledge Sequence curriculum, Saxon Math, and daily Spanish language instruction at the Parker, Colorado campus.
• Tuition-Based Pre-K Program A pre-kindergarten program offered alongside the K-8 curriculum on a tuition-based enrollment basis for families seeking an early start within the North Star Academy educational framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 8% of all Colorado Elementary Schools
• +4 more outcomes

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

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant and minor.

• Douglas County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSA is a charter public school authorized by Douglas County School District RE-1. The district provides oversight, financial transparency requirements, hot lunch program through DCSD nutrition services, and assessment policies. NSA follows all state and federal policies to operate as a charter school. Next charter renewal: 2029.
• NSA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSA Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) entity (Tax ID #20-8008135) that manages fundraising efforts, sponsorships, and community outreach. Foundation goals include raising $150,000 annually for technology, school safety, and staff appreciation/retention.
• King SooperssignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerKing Soopers Community Rewards Program enables NSA to earn up to $125,000 per quarter. The program historically nets approximately $25,000 annually. Families assign their loyalty card rewards to NSA (Organization Code UN830).
• Evolution DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page. Sponsors gain visibility through school events and signage.
• Summit OrthodonticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• Greenwood AutomotiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• Colocorp BuildersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• Christian Brothers AutomotiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• Spa BrokersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• Evergreen Private WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• DayOneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• SweetpeaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• M-PacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on NSA website sponsors page.
• Front Range Charter LeaguesignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSA participates in the Front Range Charter League since its conception in 2012. The league offers all sports including boys/girls soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, and provides athletic scheduling and governance.
• GalileominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGalileo Summer Camp partnership for summer programming available to NSA students.
• Soccer ShotsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfter-school soccer program for ages 5-8 offered Mondays 3:15-3:45 PM, March-May. Third-party provider delivering programming on NSA campus.
• Chess WizardsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfter-school chess program offered Wednesdays 3:20-4:20 PM, April-May. Third-party provider delivering programming on NSA campus.
• Science MattersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfter-school science program offered Thursdays 3:20-4:20 PM, April dates. Third-party provider delivering programming on NSA campus.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aspen Academy: Aspen Academy is a K-8 public charter school in the Denver metro area with a college-preparatory focus and Core Knowledge-aligned curriculum. Directly comparable to NSA in mission, grade range, and Colorado charter school positioning.
• DSST Public Schools: DSST is a Denver-based charter school network known for college-prep rigor, IB-program placement, and high college persistence rates. Directly comparable to NSA on college-prep orientation and award-winning academic outcomes within Colorado's charter ecosystem.
• Basis Charter Schools: Basis Charter Schools is a nationally recognized charter network with a presence in Colorado known for academic rigor and consistently top-ranked outcomes. Comparable to NSA in college-prep mission and reputation-driven enrollment demand.
• Liberty Common Charter School: Liberty Common is a K-12 public charter school in Fort Collins, CO with a classical liberal-arts and Core Knowledge-aligned curriculum. Comparable to NSA on charter status, Core Knowledge adoption, and rigorous academic positioning in Colorado.
• American Academy: American Academy is a K-8 charter school network with Colorado campuses including locations in the Douglas County / south metro Denver area. Comparable to NSA on charter model, grade range, and local geography serving similar Douglas County / Parker family demographics.
• Challenge to Excellence Charter School: Challenge to Excellence is a K-8 public charter school in Colorado Springs, CO. Comparable to NSA in grade range, charter status, and tuition-free Colorado charter school positioning.
• STEM School Highlands Ranch: STEM School Highlands Ranch is a K-12 STEM-focused public charter school located in Highlands Ranch, CO (adjacent to NSA's Douglas County footprint). Comparable in size, charter status, and rigorous academic identity.
• KIPP Colorado Public Schools: KIPP Colorado operates a network of tuition-free public charter schools serving grades K-12 in the Denver metro area. Comparable in charter model, public funding, and mission of college-prep academic preparation for diverse student populations.

Broad incumbents

• Cherry Creek School District: Cherry Creek School District is a large traditional public school district adjacent to NSA's Douglas County footprint. Comparable as a regional incumbent K-12 public education provider competing for the same south-metro Denver families.

Others

• Douglas County School District RE-1: Douglas County School District is NSA's charter authorizer and oversight body, and also operates traditional public schools competing for the same families. Listed as an 'Others' peer because it functions both as regulator/funder and as a competitor/ecosystem participant rather than a directly comparable peer institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-star-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 North Star Academy