ROOTS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

Name

ROOTS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

Legal name

Roots Charter High School

Website

https://rootshigh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Charter High School Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Alternative & At-Risk Schools (Continuation, Credit Recovery, Juvenile) (EDAJACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB), Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Public charter school
• High school education
• Farm-based learning
• Alternative education
• CTE credit programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Valley City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a Utah public charter school authorized by the Utah State Charter School Board and operated by a Utah nonprofit corporation recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, Roots receives per-pupil state funding equivalent to other Utah public schools. This covers salaries, basic operations, and the building.
2. Private Donations & Philanthropy: Private donations fund the farm program, the food pantry, camping trips, and supplemental activities not covered by public dollars. The school uses Givebutter for donation processing. Donation streams include the Neighbor Fund (monthly recurring, $5–$243), general farm fund, pantry donations, Sub for Santa family adoption, and 4-H turkey program support. All donations stay on campus. Roots is a registered 501(c)(3); contributions are tax-deductible.
3. Farm Product Sales: The working farm generates revenue through sales of eggs (sold at Liberty Heights Fresh in Salt Lake City), cut flowers (sold through Picklinq to florists across the Wasatch Front; 20,000 stems sold in the prior year), and custom floral arrangements for weddings, funerals, and events (pickup at farm, Venmo or card). Farm products include eggs, flowers, and 4-H turkeys.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Roots Charter High School is a tuition-free public charter high school (LEA 1234) in West Valley City, Utah, serving approximately 200 students in grades 9–12. The core offering is a state-recognized high school diploma earned through academic study plus a five-acre working farm that provides CTE credit via animal husbandry, floral production, egg production, and the 4-H turkey program. All operations are guided by the school's "243 (We Love You)" relational philosophy and supported by free meals, UTA bus passes, dual-language (English/Spanish) family communications, and on-site counseling and crisis services.

Product overview

Roots Charter High School is a single-site, tuition-free public charter high school operating as a unified educational service. The school's core offering is its in-person high school program for grades 9–12, built around the 243 philosophy (We Love You) and anchored by a five-acre working farm. The portfolio includes the main academic program with CTE credit opportunities through the farm, a lottery-based enrollment application process, student-led school tours, a donation and volunteer program, and on-site mental health and crisis support. All offerings are coordinated through the school's public website, which provides access to the student information system (Aspire), learning management system (Canvas), and external resources. The school has no separate product modules, tiers, or add-ons—it provides a single, integrated educational experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Roots Charter High School (Grades 9–12 Academic Program) A tuition-free public charter high school serving grades 9–12 in West Valley City, Utah, with enrollment capped at 200 students (50 per grade). Students earn a state-recognized diploma through academic study integrated with a five-acre working farm program; tuition is free by Utah state law and required fees are fully waivable for qualifying families. The school operates under the "243 (We Love You)" relational philosophy and provides free breakfast and lunch, UTA bus passes, on-site counseling, and bilingual (English/Spanish) family communications.
• The Farm Program (CTE Credit via Working Farm) A five-acre working farm where students raise animals (donkeys, llama, alpaca, sheep including Navajo-Churro enrolled in a breed-recovery program, Mangalitsa pigs, 500 laying hens, turkeys through 4-H Utah) and grow cut flowers (dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias). Students earn CTE credit through animal husbandry, floral production, egg production, and 4-H turkey program participation. Farm outputs are sold commercially — eggs to Liberty Heights Fresh in Salt Lake City and ~20,000 flower stems per year through Picklinq to florists across the Wasatch Front.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 66% lower odds of mental health, violence, and substance abuse problems in adulthood for teens who felt connection in school (Steiner et al., 2019. Pediatrics. n=14,800)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PicklinqcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPicklinq is the primary distribution channel for Roots' cut flower production. The company distributes Roots-grown flowers (dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias) to florists across the Wasatch Front. Roots sold 20,000 stems through Picklinq in the prior year, up from 5,000 the year before. Picklinq is described as a key commercial partner that connects farm output to market.
• Liberty Heights FreshcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiberty Heights Fresh is the retail outlet for Roots eggs. Located at 1290 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, the store carries eggs produced by Roots' 500-hen laying operation, managed by students.
• 4-H UtahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoots' turkey program runs through Utah 4-H. Students learn project management, recordkeeping, and animal science through a full year of student-led poultry operations culminating in Thanksgiving. 4-H provides the programmatic structure and youth development framework.
• Navajo-Churro Sheep AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoots' Churro flock is enrolled in a national breed-recovery program managed by the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association. Roots bred the flock for the first time this year, contributing to the preservation of the breed. Students participate in breed-recovery animal husbandry as a learning opportunity.
• Give ButtercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGive Butter is Roots' donation platform. All monetary donations are processed off-site through Give Butter, which handles payment processing and tax receipts. Roots does not collect, transmit, or store payment card data through its own website. Give Butter's privacy policy governs donor payment information.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New Tech Network: National network of project-based learning schools, many of which are charter schools. Comparable to Roots in centering applied, hands-on learning and authentic student work as the core educational model within a public charter framework.
• Summit Public Schools: California-based charter network known for self-directed, project-based learning with mentor relationships. Comparable to Roots in operating as a public charter serving diverse student populations with a small, relational environment and applied learning.
• High Tech High: San Diego-based charter school network using project-based, hands-on learning with strong student ownership of work. Comparable to Roots in integrating real-world production (projects, exhibitions) into curriculum and operating as a public charter with a non-traditional pedagogy.
• Envision Schools: Bay Area charter management organization operating project-based high schools with a focus on equity and student ownership. Comparable to Roots in mission-driven alternative public charter structure serving underrepresented students.
• REAL Schools (Restorative Education Adventures in Learning): Portland, Oregon-based restorative education program serving students who have not succeeded in traditional schools. Comparable to Roots in serving credit-deficient, disengaged students through a trauma-informed, relational model with small cohorts.

Regional players

• American Preparatory Schools: Multi-site Utah public charter school network serving K-12. Comparable to Roots as a Utah charter operator, though American Preparatory is a larger network with a more traditional classical curriculum and direct competition for the same West Valley/Salt Lake families.

Broad incumbents

• Green Dot Public Schools: Charter management organization focused on college and career readiness for students typically underserved by traditional schools. Comparable to Roots in targeting at-risk student populations through a public charter model with wraparound supports.
• Big Picture Learning: National network of alternative high schools built around internships, advisory, and personalized learning plans. Comparable to Roots in serving students who don't fit traditional high schools with a small, relational model, though Big Picture Learning is a much larger network operator across multiple states.
• KIPP Public Schools: National charter network serving predominantly low-income students in underserved communities. Comparable to Roots in mission to serve students who lack strong district options, though KIPP operates at scale across many states and focuses on college prep.

Others

• Shelburne Farms: Vermont-based educational farm and nonprofit using a working farm as a platform for school and youth programming. Comparable to Roots in operating a working farm that doubles as a learning environment, though Shelburne Farms is a nonprofit education center rather than a charter school.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/roots-charter-high-school

Compliance7 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 ROOTS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL