Rooted School Vancouver

What Rooted School Vancouver does

Rooted School Vancouver is a public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in Vancouver, Washington, operated as a Washington State-authorized non-profit entity and affiliated with the Rooted School national charter network originating in New Orleans. The school opened in the 2023-24 school year with a single 9th-grade cohort and is adding one grade level per year toward a planned full capacity of 130-140 students across grades 9-12 by the 2026-27 school year. Its mission is to provide personalized, rigorous, and career-connected learning experiences to underserved African American, LatinX, and Native American students who score 15-20% lower on Washington state assessments than peers.

The core educational offering combines self-directed on-site learning (personalized playlists of tasks and projects with mastery-based progression), approximately two hours daily of industry-focused project-based learning co-designed with technology partners, and a competency-based 5-point grading scale (developing, emerging, proficient, mastery) that translates into a traditional GPA for college applications. Students can earn advanced industry credentials and compete for paid internships with local technology partners starting in 9th grade. Add-on programs include Highly Capable Services for gifted learners, Special Education services, USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, and operational tools (Qmlativ/Skyward SIS, ParentSquare communications). Supporting technology is entirely third-party (Skyward, ParentSquare, Squarespace, Zeffy); no proprietary AI or platform technology is developed in-house.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-pupil state and federal public funding that follows the student from their previous public school, supplemented by donations and community/corporate sponsorships (notably through the Zeffy donation platform). There is no tuition, with optional meal fees at $4.75 lunch and $2.75 breakfast subject to free/reduced eligibility, and free C-Tran transit passes for students. The school is governed by an independent Board of Directors (chair Adrienne Mason) and led by Executive Director Dr. Jamila Singleton and Director of School Operations & Community Dr. Sarah Yee. Headcount is approximately 11 employees, consistent with a small, single-site operator in mid-expansion.

Name

Rooted School Vancouver

Legal name

Rooted School Vancouver

Website

https://rootedschoolvancouver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rooted School Vancouver is a free public charter high school in Vancouver, WA, serving grades 9-12 (expanding to full capacity by 2026-27) with self-directed, competency-based, and industry-partner project learning targeted at underserved African American, LatinX, and Native American students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Charter High School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Indigenous/Culturally Focused & Community-Based Schools (EDAJACAM)

Keywords

• Public charter school
• High school education
• Project-based learning
• Career-connected learning
• Competency-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

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, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: As a public charter school, Rooted School Vancouver is funded based on student enrollment through a mix of federal and state funding, similar to district public schools. The per-pupil funding follows students from their previous public school to the charter school. Additional funding may come from privately fundraised budgets and community donations.
2. Donations and Community Contributions: The school accepts donations through platforms like Zeffy to fund critical programs, purchase supplies, and maintain facilities. Corporate and community sponsorships also contribute funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rooted School Vancouver operates a free, public charter high school for grades 9-12 in Vancouver, Washington, delivering personalized, self-directed, project-based learning co-designed with local technology industry partners. Students can earn advanced industry credentials and compete for paid internships starting in 9th grade, with the goal of graduating with both a college acceptance and a career pathway or job. The core offering is an integrated educational program supplemented by Highly Capable Services, Special Education services, USDA school meals, and operational platforms (Qmlativ/Skyward and ParentSquare).

Product overview

Rooted School Vancouver is a single, unified educational institution—a free public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in Vancouver, WA. The core offering is an integrated educational program combining self-directed learning, industry-based credentials, and project-based learning designed with technology industry partners. Students can graduate with college acceptance and career pathways. The school supplements its core academics with specialized programs including Highly Capable Services for gifted learners, Special Education services, and operational tools like the Qmlativ student information system and ParentSquare communications platform. Meals are provided through the USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rooted School Vancouver Core Education Program A free, public charter high school serving 9th-12th grade students in Vancouver, WA, focused on providing personalized, rigorous, and career-connected learning experiences to prepare students for financial freedom and upward mobility.
• Self-Directed On-Site Learning Program A personalized learning model in which students receive playlists of tasks and projects to complete within courses and set their own learning tempo within structured guardrails, allowing advancement upon mastery.
• Industry-Based Credentials and Internships Program Approximately two hours daily of industry-focused project-based learning designed with industry partners, enabling students to earn advanced industry credentials in technology sectors and compete for paid internships starting in 9th grade.
• Project-Based Learning Program Students apply skills to solve real-world challenges through projects co-designed with technology industry partners, practicing industry-specific skills and learning to give and receive feedback toward shared goals.
• Highly Capable Services & Programs Specialized program offering differentiated instruction, project-based learning, and specialized support services for highly capable learners, including personalized learning plans, advisory and mentoring services, and small-group tutoring.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education services provided to eligible students, including screening in areas of suspected disabilities (vision, hearing, motor skills, speech, language, general development) and evaluations for learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disabilities, autism, and other conditions.
• School Meals Program (USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs) Participation in the USDA National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, providing nutritionally balanced meals to students, with lunch at $4.75 and breakfast at $2.75, and free and reduced meal eligibility for qualifying families.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Technology Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partners co-design project-based learning experiences with Rooted's teachers. Students engage in industry-focused projects designed around specific community problems. Partners include technology companies offering paid internships to students starting in 9th grade. Partners benefit from access to a diverse talent pipeline for future employees.
• Port of RidgefieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in close proximity to the Port of Ridgefield area where many regional and successful businesses coagulate, including drone industries, medical facilities, and tech companies.
• Clark CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose proximity to Clark College enables college preparedness activities, community events, and dual credit opportunities where students earn college credits while still in high school.
• High Tech Council of SW WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology industry council that benefits from Rooted's pipeline of future employees in technology careers.
• Fourth Plain ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization helping connect the school with the local community and workforce development opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rooted-school-vancouver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Rooted School Vancouver