SAI Academy

What SAI Academy does

SAI Academy is a privately held online private school founded in 2020 and headquartered in the Orlando, Florida area, serving middle and high school student-athletes (grades 6-12) who need academically rigorous, NCAA-eligible coursework that adapts to intensive training and competition schedules. Its core offering is the E-Learning Program, a flexible hybrid and virtual schooling platform powered by Edmentum's EdOptions Academy — a curriculum fully accredited by Cognia and WASC and offering more than 400 courses including AP, honors, dual enrollment, and world languages. Around this academic core, SAI bundles a Soccer Development Program, NCAA Guidance and Support counseling, a Leadership Program (mentorship and community outreach), a Summer School Program, and College Prep services, all delivered through rolling admissions so students can enroll mid-year.

The business model is subscription-based tuition at $9,500 per student per year, supplemented by a $250 one-time application fee ($50 late fee after July 15) and a $55 non-refundable financial-aid processing fee administered through Blackbaud Financial Aid Management. Florida families can offset or fully cover tuition through the Step Up For Students scholarship program (Florida Tax Credit, FES-EO, and FES-UA). The company runs a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer enrollment through the FSEnrollment portal with monthly academic progress reports and Virtual Open House conversion events, combined with a B2B2C channel in which 15+ MLS clubs and youth soccer academies (Orlando City SC, Chicago Fire FC, Austin FC, DC United, San Jose Earthquakes, Inter Miami CF, Jacksonville FC, GGS Soccer Academy, DME Academy) refer athletes and host on-site hybrid classrooms at club facilities. The dual enrollment partnership with the University of South Florida extends credit-bearing coursework into the college layer. Operating with 38 employees, the company is actively enrolling students as of 2026 and highlights alumni outcomes including a 2023 graduate who reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the USMNT.

Name

SAI Academy

Legal name

SAI Academy

Website

https://saiacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SAI Academy is a Florida-based online private school serving grades 6-12 student-athletes with NCAA-accredited, flexible hybrid and virtual coursework, delivered through direct family enrollment and 15+ MLS club partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Online and Hybrid Education for Student-Athletes

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJADAB

District-Run Virtual Academies & Online Programs

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Online & Virtual Schools

SECONDARYMPAKAJAB

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Camps, Academies & Training Centers

Keywords

• Online education services
• K-12 virtual schooling
• Student-athlete academics
• NCAA-accredited curriculum
• Hybrid learning platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition of $9,500 per student for the E-Learning program. Revenue is subscription-based, billed annually. Florida families may qualify for state scholarship funding through Step Up For Students that significantly offsets or covers tuition costs.
2. Application Fees: One-time non-refundable application fee of $250. Late applications after July 15th incur an additional $50 late fee.
3. Financial Aid Processing: Financial aid applications processed through Blackbaud Financial Aid Management with a $55 non-refundable application fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SAI Academy is a private online and hybrid school serving middle and high school student-athletes (grades 6-12) with NCAA-accredited curriculum delivered through Edmentum's EdOptions Academy. The academy combines flexible asynchronous and live online classes, rolling admissions, Individualized Learning Plans, and on-site hybrid classrooms at partner MLS club facilities to enable athletes to train and compete while maintaining college-eligible academics. Co-curricular offerings include soccer development, NCAA counseling, college prep, summer school, a leadership program, and financial aid support.

Product overview

SAI Academy is a unified hybrid learning platform combining virtual academics with soccer development for middle and high school student-athletes. The core E-Learning Program serves as the main platform delivering NCAA-accredited curriculum through Edmentum/EdOptions Academy, supplemented by specialized Soccer Development Programs, NCAA Guidance and Support services, and a Leadership Program. Additional offerings include a Summer School Program, College Prep Program, Middle School and High School Programs, and financial support through Step Up For Students and Financial Aid services. The platform serves grades 6-12 with rolling admissions and flexible scheduling that accommodates training, travel, and competition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-Learning Program Flexible hybrid and virtual schooling platform for middle and high school student-athletes (grades 6-12) that delivers asynchronous and live online classes, rolling admissions, and NCAA-accredited curriculum through Edmentum's EdOptions Academy, enabling students to train and compete while maintaining college eligibility.
• Soccer Development Program Comprehensive soccer training program for student-athletes covering mental, technical, and tactical development, with specialized camps, position-specific training, and performance coaching for athletes pursuing collegiate and professional pathways.
• High School Program High school curriculum (grades 9-12) offering over 400 courses through Edmentum, including AP courses, World Languages, electives, and college and career preparation, leading to a US High School diploma with NCAA-approved coursework.
• Middle School Program Middle school curriculum (grades 6-8) using Edmentum's award-winning Courseware with seven courses per quarter including Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, Advisory, and electives, requiring two online sessions per week.
• College Prep Program Comprehensive college readiness program starting freshman year with SAT/ACT assessment preparation, AP and Honors courses, dual enrollment opportunities, and guidance counselor support for course selection.
• Summer School Program Accelerated summer academic program offering advanced credit courses in Mathematics, Science, and Human Geography, along with SAT/ACT exam preparation and career seminars.
• NCAA Guidance and Support College and career counseling services providing NCAA eligibility tracking, scholarship guidance, athletic recruiting support, player resume building, and hands-on assistance throughout the college application process for student-athletes.
• Leadership Program (Influence) Program connecting student-athletes with professionals across sports, business, and various disciplines through speakers, community outreach, and mentorship designed to develop future leaders.
• Step Up For Students Scholarship Support Financial aid and scholarship support program helping Florida families access K-12 scholarships including Florida Tax Credit, Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES-EO), and Unique Abilities (FES-UA) programs to offset tuition.
• Financial Aid (Blackbaud) Financial aid application process managed through Blackbaud Financial Aid Management, providing families with tuition support options and scholarship opportunities via a $55 non-refundable application fee.
• Club & Team Partnerships Partnership program integrating SAI Academy's academic model with soccer clubs nationwide, offering hybrid learning models, academic progress tracking, and college-counseling support for club athletes through on-site hybrid classrooms at partner facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of graduates accepted to Division I institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• University of South FloridasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Dual enrollment partnership allowing SAI students to take college courses at USF while completing high school requirements.
• Orlando City SCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst partnership established in 2020 when SAI Academy was founded. Orlando City SC is the founding partner of SAI Academy, providing on-site facilities for hybrid learning at their academy location.
• Chicago Fire FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLS club partnership providing academic integration for Chicago Fire academy players. Students can attend on-site hybrid classrooms while training with the club.
• Austin FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Austin FC for academic delivery to youth academy players. Austin FC hosted the 2026 Graduation Ceremony at Q2 Stadium.
• DC UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with DC United academy for flexible schooling options for their youth soccer players.
• San Jose EarthquakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLS club partnership providing educational services to San Jose Earthquakes academy players.
• GGS Soccer AcademysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth soccer academy partnership providing academic integration for GGS players.
• Jacksonville FCsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNortheast Florida soccer club partnership. SAI Academy and Jacksonville FC continue to see significant growth in their integrated athletic and academic model.
• Inter MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLS club partnership with Inter Miami CF for academic services at their academy locations.
• DME Academy (Sarasota)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DME Academy Sarasota for educational support of their student-athletes. Notable alumnus Lucas Turasz from DME transferred to Sporting Lisbon.
• Edmentum / EdOptions AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationCurriculum partner powering SAI Academy's academic program. EdOptions Academy is fully accredited by Cognia and WASC, providing 400+ courses aligned with national academic standards.
• TalentprojektsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman soccer development program. Student Andrew P. pursued soccer through Talentprojekt in Germany while continuing education with SAI Academy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• K12 / Stride: Large-scale online K-12 education provider offering tuition-based virtual schooling with flexible scheduling. Directly comparable to SAI Academy on the asynchronous/online private school axis, though Stride is a broad incumbent across general K-12 rather than the student-athlete niche.
• Florida Virtual School (FLVS): Statewide online K-12 public school that pioneered flexible virtual learning in Florida. Operates in the same geography and addresses the same scheduling-constrained student, making it the closest publicly funded counterpart to SAI's private online model.
• IMG Academy: Premier multi-sport academy combining elite athletic training with college-prep academics on a residential campus. Highly comparable to SAI Academy's integrated athletics-plus-academics value proposition, though delivered as a full-time boarding school rather than virtual.
• Connections Academy: Operator of tuition-free online K-12 public schools across multiple U.S. states. Comparable on the online K-12 delivery model, schedule flexibility, and NCAA-eligible curriculum stack, serving families seeking alternative schooling formats.
• DME Academy: Florida-based multi-sport academy that pairs elite training with academic schooling, including a documented SAI Academy partnership for educational delivery. Closely comparable on the integrated sports-plus-academics model in the same regional market.

Emerging players

• Oak Meadow: Accredited online K-12 homeschool and flexible education provider with NCAA-approved coursework. Comparable as a smaller, accredited virtual school serving families seeking alternative scheduling, though not sports-athlete-focused.
• ASPIRE Academy: International elite sports academy combining world-class athletic training with academic schooling for student-athletes. Comparable as a sport-focused integrated academy targeting college and professional pathways, though residential and international in scope.
• Calvert Academy / Calvert Homeschool: Long-running accredited homeschool and online K-12 provider with NCAA-eligible curriculum. Comparable on the flexible, accredited, parent-led academic model that supports student-athletes needing schedule flexibility.
• Time4Learning: Subscription-based online curriculum and school product for homeschool and flexible learners, including NCAA-approved courses. Comparable on the asynchronous, self-paced online delivery to families seeking schedule-flexible academics.

Regional players

• Sunderland AFC Academy of Light: UK-based elite youth football academy pairing professional training with academic education. Comparable as a top-flight youth soccer academy integrating schooling, though operating in a different geography and primarily residential.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SAIAcademyOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/saiacademyofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/saiacademyofficial/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@saiacademyofficial

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 SAI Academy