Parker Performing Arts School

What Parker Performing Arts School does

Parker Performing Arts School (PPA) is a tuition-free public charter K-8 school located at 15035 Compark Blvd in the Parker area of Douglas County, Colorado. Founded by a group of parents and chartered on June 2, 2015 by the Douglas County Board of Education, PPA opened its doors on September 12, 2016 with over 800 students — making it the largest charter school to ever open in Douglas County in its first year. The school currently enrolls approximately 600-700 students across K-8, employs 47 staff, and maintains a 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio. PPA's core offering is a dual-curriculum model that integrates rigorous K-8 academics with daily performing arts training across six artistic pathways: dance, theatre, musical theatre, instrumental music, vocal music, and visual arts. Elementary students (K-4) receive literacy and math instruction in a one-to-one iPad environment with differentiated digital curriculum alongside daily 'Encore' performing arts classes; middle school students (5-8) attend academic classes averaging 25 students and select four performing arts electives per semester at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. The school delivers 32+ student performance opportunities annually, including the Main Stage production series, and supplements the program with a quarterly Artist Appearance Series featuring professional performers.

PPA operates within the technology, marketing, and distribution channels typical of a digitally-equipped K-8 school: each student is issued a school-owned iPad (grades 3-8 take devices home daily; K-2 use in class), and the school integrates Infinite Campus for grades and attendance, Google Guardian for assignment communication, and My School Bucks for student fees. PPA does not charge tuition; its revenue is generated through Per Pupil Revenue (PPR) from the Douglas County School District, supplemented by tax-deductible donations to its 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. The school recruits students through DCSD's centralized Open Enrollment system, which is open to all Colorado K-8 students regardless of county residency, and supplements this funnel with monthly in-person school tours, an active Facebook and Instagram presence, a New Parent Connection Program, and a network of nine+ Donors & Partners in the Arts organizations (e.g., Ames Construction, Dance Academy Denver, Denver Ballet Theater, Parker Dance Academy, Performing Arts Academy, Studio 9 Dance Academy, Allanas Academy of Dance, Music Minstreet, Mercury Academy). Add-on services include the licensed Spotlight before/after care program and the Spotlight Summer Program. The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by Principal Phil Molfino, with Caitlin Hilzer serving as Title IX Coordinator under DCSD's Title IX policy framework.

Name

Parker Performing Arts School

Legal name

Parker Performing Arts School

Website

https://parkerperformingarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Parker Performing Arts School is a tuition-free public charter K-8 school in Douglas County, Colorado, serving approximately 600-700 students with a dual curriculum that integrates rigorous academics and daily performing arts training across six artistic pathways, funded by per-pupil revenue and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Arts & Performing Arts Schools (EDAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Public charter school
• K-8 education
• Performing arts curriculum
• Arts integrated learning
• Charter school tuition-free

Headquarters

HQ city

Englewood

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Per Pupil Revenue (PPR): As a public charter school within the Douglas County School District, PPA is funded by per pupil revenue (PPR) from public tax dollars. The school does not charge tuition. PPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and accepts donations to supplement its programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Parker Performing Arts School is a tuition-free public charter K-8 school that combines rigorous academic instruction with daily performing arts training across dance, theatre, musical theatre, instrumental music, vocal music, and visual arts. Elementary students (K-4) receive daily Encore performing arts classes integrated with literacy and math instruction in a one-to-one iPad differentiated digital learning environment. Middle school students (grades 5-8) attend academic classes averaging no more than 25 students and select four performing arts electives per semester at beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels with no audition required.

Product overview

Parker Performing Arts School is a tuition-free public charter school serving approximately 600-700 students in grades K-8. The school offers a dual educational model combining rigorous academics with daily performing arts training. Elementary students (K-4) receive literacy and math instruction in a one-to-one iPad environment alongside daily Encore performing arts classes. Middle schoolers (5-8) attend academic classes averaging 25 students and select four performing arts electives per semester from pathways including dance, vocal/instrumental music, theater, musical theater, and visual arts. The school operates the Spotlight before/after care program and summer program as add-on services. Student productions, including annual Main Stage shows featuring 60+ middle school performers, and the Artist Appearance Series providing quarterly professional performances, complement classroom instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elementary K-4 Academic Program
• Middle School 5-8 Academic Program
• Elementary Performing Arts Encores
• Performing Arts Electives
• Main Stage Productions
• Artist Appearance Series
• Spotlight Before & After Care Program
• Spotlight Summer Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 32+ student performance opportunities each year
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Ames ConstructionminorOthersAmes Construction is listed as a donor and partner in the arts on PPA's homepage. It is a major commercial construction company with a presence in Colorado. The nature of the partnership is primarily financial support through donations or in-kind construction services.
• Dance Academy DenverminorOthersDance Academy Denver is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership provides additional dance training resources and referrals for PPA students interested in supplemental dance education.
• Denver Ballet TheaterminorOthersDenver Ballet Theater is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership provides professional ballet exposure and supplemental training opportunities for PPA dance students.
• Parker Dance AcademyminorOthersParker Dance Academy is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. As a local Parker-area dance school, the partnership offers community connections and supplemental dance instruction for PPA students.
• Performing Arts AcademyminorOthersPerforming Arts Academy (PAAColorado.org) is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership connects PPA with broader performing arts education resources in Colorado.
• Studio 9 Dance AcademyminorOthersStudio 9 Dance Academy is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership provides supplemental dance instruction and community connections for PPA students.
• Allanas Academy of DanceminorOthersAllanas Academy of Dance is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership provides supplemental dance education connections for PPA students.
• Music MinstreetminorOthersMusic Minstreet (Music at Mainstreet) is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership supports PPA's instrumental music program through supplemental instruction and community connections.
• Mercury AcademyminorOthersMercury Academy is listed as a Donors & Partners in the Arts partner on PPA's homepage. The partnership provides supplemental dance instruction and community connections for PPA students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Aspen Academy: Douglas County area K-8 public charter school focused on academic rigor and gifted education. Comparable as a same-district charter school serving similar K-8 families in the same geographic market, though with academic rather than arts focus.
• KIPP Colorado Public Schools: Network of public charter schools operating across Colorado serving K-12 students. Comparable as Colorado-based charter operator with similar per pupil funding economics, though KIPP focuses on college prep rather than arts integration.
• BASIS Charter Schools (Colorado): Network of public charter schools in Colorado delivering rigorous college-preparatory academics. Comparable as a Colorado charter operator with similar PPR funding model, but BASIS emphasizes STEM/academics rather than performing arts integration.

Direct peers

• Frank Sinatra School of the Arts: Queens, NYC public high school specializing in performing and visual arts for grades 9-12. Comparable public arts school with multi-pathway arts programming, though Sinatra serves older students via audition-based admissions.
• Conservatory Lab Charter School: Boston-area K-6 public charter school with a performing arts–integrated curriculum that combines academics with daily ensemble music instruction. Closest analog to PPA as a tuition-free public charter with arts integration at the elementary/middle level.
• Lusher Charter School: New Orleans K-12 public charter with a strong performing and visual arts focus across elementary and high school grades. Comparable as a public charter with arts pathways extending beyond elementary into secondary grades.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: Washington DC public high school (grades 9-12) dedicated to artistic and academic excellence across dance, instrumental and vocal music, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing. Comparable public arts school with similar multi-pathway arts structure.
• Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts: Dallas public magnet high school specializing in performing and visual arts, offering tuition-free arts education with audition-based admissions. Comparable public arts school model and benchmark for arts-focused public education programming.
• New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA): Tuition-free public arts conservatory serving high school students in New Orleans across visual, performing, and creative disciplines. Comparable as a publicly funded arts-focused school model, though NOCCA serves older students and uses audition-based admissions.
• Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA): Houston public magnet high school providing tuition-free performing and visual arts education to grades 9-12. Comparable in delivering arts-rich public education at scale, though HSPVA serves older students through audition-based admissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ParkerPerformingArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/parkerperformingarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parker-performing-arts-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Parker Performing Arts School