POLARIS CHARTER SCHOOL

What POLARIS CHARTER SCHOOL does

Polaris Charter School is a 501(c)(3) public charter elementary school operating from a single facility at 100 Coolidge Ave in Manchester, New Hampshire, having opened in fall 2012 under a charter authorized by the NH Board of Education (most recently renewed in 2022). The school serves students aged 5 (as of September 30) through 11 in multi-grade, interdisciplinary classrooms with a maximum 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio, drawing applicants from more than 15 New Hampshire towns. Its core product is a project-based, inquiry-driven curriculum organized around a Move-on-When-Ready approach, Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs), and a social-emotional learning program anchored by monthly core values, supplemented by Movement and Arts enrichment (PE, music, art, Healthy Minds).

The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and led day-to-day by Director Jennifer Murdock-Smith; Jill Cane, a founder and former public-school principal, serves as Vice President. The technology stack is standard education SaaS — Google Workspace, Sycamore for enrollment and student information, and Clever as the single-sign-on student portal — with no proprietary software, API, or mobile app.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-pupil state funding from New Hampshire (free to NH residents) plus a diversified donation layer spanning an Annual Fund, NH Gives Campaign, PayPal Giving Fund, and community programs such as Hannaford Helps Schools (which raised approximately $2,175 in 2025). Out-of-state students may be admitted only after NH applicants are placed and are charged tuition set annually by the Board of Trustees. Admissions are run via lottery when applications exceed capacity, with priority for siblings and children of founders/employees, and Manchester-resident students receive bus transportation through a partnership with the Manchester School District.

Name

POLARIS CHARTER SCHOOL

Legal name

Polaris Charter School

Website

https://polarischarterschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Polaris Charter School is a 501(c)(3) public charter elementary school in Manchester, New Hampshire, serving students ages 5-11 in multi-grade classrooms through a project-based, personalized learning model, funded primarily by NH per-pupil state aid and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Elementary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJACAB

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Charter K–12 Schools

Keywords

• Public charter education
• Elementary school services
• Project-based learning
• Personalized learning plans
• Social-emotional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, Polaris receives per-pupil state funding from New Hampshire based on enrollment. This is the primary funding source for operations.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The school accepts charitable donations through its Annual Fund, NH Gives Campaign, PayPal Giving Fund, and Hannaford Helps Schools program. Donations are tax-deductible as the school is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. Out-of-State Tuition: Non-New Hampshire resident students may be admitted if space remains after NH applicants are accepted, and are charged tuition at an annual rate determined by the Board of Trustees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Polaris Charter School is an open-enrollment NH Chartered Public Elementary School that delivers project-based, inquiry-driven elementary education to children aged 5-11 in multi-grade interdisciplinary classrooms. Programming combines a move-on-when-ready mastery model, Personalized Learning Plans that integrate academic and social-emotional goals, and character education supported by monthly core values. The school is tuition-free for New Hampshire residents and charges tuition only for admitted out-of-state students if seats remain.

Product overview

Polaris Charter School is a single-site, NH Chartered Public Elementary School (opened fall 2012) offering a unified educational program for children ages 5-11. The school operates as one integrated program built around project-based, interdisciplinary learning with multi-age classrooms. Key program components include Personalized Learning Plans, Social-Emotional Learning/Character Education, and Movement & Arts enrichment. The school uses Sycamore for enrollment management and Clever for student portal access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polaris Charter School Elementary Education Program An open-enrollment, NH Chartered Public Elementary School serving students aged 5 (by September 30) through age 11 in multi-grade, interdisciplinary classrooms with a project-based curriculum and inquiry-based learning approach. Designed for New Hampshire families seeking an alternative to traditional district elementary education.
• Project-Based Learning Curriculum A dynamic classroom approach in which students acquire deeper knowledge through active exploration, real-world connections, and structured collaboration. Projects are student-driven and developed over extended periods to investigate authentic, engaging questions and challenges. Intended for enrolled elementary students.
• Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) Individualized educational plans that combine academic and social-emotional standards with personalized goals, created collaboratively with each student and reviewed with ongoing performance data and feedback. Delivered to all enrolled elementary students.
• Social-Emotional Learning and Character Education Program Monthly core values curriculum covering respect, responsibility, courage, citizenship, gratitude, forgiveness, compassion, fairness, trustworthiness, and grit, delivered alongside daily community meetings. Designed to build social-emotional skills for enrolled elementary students.
• Movement and Arts Program Enrichment activities including Physical Education, Music, Art, and Healthy Minds (yoga, meditation, and creative thinking) integrated throughout the school day to support physical health and creative development. Available to all enrolled elementary students.
• Multi-Age Classroom Environment Flexible groupings across multi-age classrooms with a maximum student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1, supporting a move-on-when-ready approach where students progress based on subject mastery rather than age-based grade constraints. Available to all enrolled elementary students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Move-on-when-ready approach ensures students are well-prepared for future academic challenges
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Manchester School DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManchester School District provides bus transportation services for Manchester students attending Polaris Charter School, extending access to families in the Manchester area who may need transportation support.
• Hannaford Helps SchoolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity fundraising program where Hannaford customers can direct School Dollars to Polaris. The 2025 program raised $2,175.04 for the school. Program runs April-May annually.
• PayPal Giving FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPolaris receives donations through PayPal Giving Fund, which covers all transaction fees for registered 501(c)(3) charities, facilitating tax-deductible donations.
• ClevercoreTechnology or IntegrationClever provides the student portal login system for Polaris students to access educational applications and resources securely through single sign-on.
• Sycamore EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSycamore serves as the school's enrollment management and student information system, handling applications, lottery tracking, and student records.
• WaypointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Hampshire community organization providing navigation services that can assist Polaris families experiencing homelessness or housing instability, supporting McKinney-Vento compliance.
• Families in TransitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester-based organization supporting families in transition that can connect Polaris families with additional resources under McKinney-Vento protections.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Big Picture Learning: A national nonprofit that supports a network of project-based, student-centered schools with multi-age advisories. Comparable as a broader project-based charter network, though much larger and operating at scale beyond Polaris's single-site footprint.
• KIPP Foundation: The largest U.S. charter school network operating tuition-free public schools in multiple states. Comparable as a charter operator serving families seeking alternative public education, though at vastly greater scale and a different pedagogical focus.

Direct peers

• High Tech High: A nationally recognized charter school network built on project-based, interdisciplinary learning with multi-age classrooms. Directly comparable to Polaris's pedagogical model of project-based, mastery-progression learning in a charter setting.
• Summit Public Schools: A California-based charter management organization known for personalized learning plans and competency-based progression. Directly comparable to Polaris's Personalized Learning Plans and move-on-when-ready mastery model.
• Seacoast Charter School: A New Hampshire chartered public elementary school serving grades K-8 with a project-based, multi-age approach. Directly comparable to Polaris as a single-site NH charter elementary school with personalized learning philosophy.
• Great Bay Charter School: A New Hampshire public charter school located in Dover, NH, similarly serving students through project-based and personalized learning. Comparable as another in-state NH charter operator competing with Polaris for the same family demographic.

Emerging players

• Wildflower Schools Foundation: A nonprofit network supporting small, teacher-led Montessori-inspired schools. Comparable to Polaris as a model built around small, learner-centered classrooms, though operating with a teacher-entrepreneur franchise model rather than a traditional charter structure.
• MicroSociety Academy Charter School: A small New Hampshire charter school using a project-based, learner-centered model. Comparable to Polaris as a small NH charter school with a project-based and personalized educational philosophy.

Regional players

• Academy for Science and Design: An NH charter school serving grades 6-12 in Nashua, NH, focused on STEM and advanced coursework. Comparable as a fellow NH public charter school serving families seeking alternative K-12 education, though at the secondary level.
• Compass Charter School: A New Hampshire public charter school serving grades K-12 with a competency-based, personalized learning approach. Comparable as a NH charter operator using similar mastery-based progression, with a broader K-12 footprint that contrasts with Polaris's K-11 range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/polarischarterschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/polarischarterschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/polaris-charter-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 POLARIS CHARTER SCHOOL