The Academy of Hope

What The Academy of Hope does

The Academy of Hope is a nonprofit public charter school located at 3521 Juniper Bay Road in Conway, South Carolina, serving PreK through 8th grade students in Horry County. Founded in 2009 by Joseph E. Washington, the school operates on a tuition-free model and delivers year-round education emphasizing character building, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurship, and global responsibility. Its core educational product includes an International Business Program focused on foreign language and entrepreneurial skills, single-gender math and science classes in middle school, related arts (music, Spanish, art), and a mandatory school uniform policy. The school's technology stack is minimal and primarily consists of the Horry County Schools PowerSchool Parent Portal for grade and attendance management, with digital library resources accessed through the Horry County Library system.

The Academy of Hope generates revenue almost entirely from public sources: South Carolina state per-pupil funding, federal Title I, Title II, and Title III allocations, and competitive grants such as the pending 21st Century Community Learning Centers application ($201,500/year for four years). Secondary revenue comes from community donations and sponsorships, with an active #giveHOPE fundraising campaign targeting $250,000 to offset operational cost pressures. The school is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors elected by parents and employees through a partnership with the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina, and currently employs approximately 20 faculty and staff. Dr. Eugene Bellamy Jr., appointed full-time Executive Director & Principal in June 2026, leads the organization after a December 2025 leadership transition following the twelve-year tenure of Dr. Melissa McCloud.

The school's go-to-market is community-led, relying on virtual open houses, enrollment fairs, community partnerships (e.g., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity), and direct family outreach in Horry County. Transportation is provided within the service area, and enrollment operates on a first-come, first-served basis with a waitlist mechanism when seats are filled. The Academy of Hope has demonstrated measurable academic improvement, with its Elementary school SC Report Card rating moving from "Unsatisfactory" to "Average" in 2024-2025, while the Middle school maintained an "Average" rating.

Name

The Academy of Hope

Legal name

Academy of Hope Inc.

Website

https://theacademyofhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Academy of Hope is a nonprofit public charter school in Conway, South Carolina, serving PreK-8th grade students in Horry County with tuition-free year-round education. Founded in 2009, it is funded by state and federal per-pupil allocations, Title I, grants, and community donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Public charter school
• Primary education services
• K-8 education
• Charter school enrollment
• Free public education

Headquarters

HQ city

Conway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. State and Federal Funding: Primary revenue stream from state and federal education funding, including Title I, Title II, and Title III programs
2. Grants: Applying for 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant of $201,500 per year for four years to support academic enrichment
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Community donors, alumni, and sponsors contribute to operational costs. Currently running #giveHOPE campaign targeting $250,000.
4. Title I Federal Program: Federal funding for high-poverty schools to support academic standards and student success

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Academy of Hope is a free public charter school operating in Conway, South Carolina, delivering year-round educational services for students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Instruction emphasizes character building, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurship, and global responsibility, supplemented by programs such as the International Business Program focused on foreign language and entrepreneurial skills, music/Spanish/art classes, and Title I-supported academic support.

Product overview

The Academy of Hope operates as a single, unified educational institution — a free public charter school providing year-round schooling for grades Pre-K through 8th grade. The school is organized as one core product (its charter school educational program) supplemented by specific programmatic offerings including an International Business Program focused on foreign language and entrepreneurship, a 21st Century Community Learning Centers enrichment program (pending grant award), and a donation fundraising campaign ($250,000 goal) to support operations. The school also offers related arts including music, Spanish, and art, and participates in Title I federal funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academy of Hope Public Charter School Tuition-free public charter school providing year-round core academic instruction and enrichment for Pre-K through 8th grade students in Conway, SC, within the Horry County service area with transportation provided.
• International Business Program Sub-program within the Academy of Hope charter school focused on developing foreign language and entrepreneurial skills in students as part of the school's goal to cultivate international business acumen.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved SC Report Card rating from 'Unsatisfactory' to 'Average' for Elementary School in 2024-2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina (PCSASC)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Partnership to conduct board seat elections ensuring election integrity and confidentiality. PCSASC certified and verified the 2026 special election to fill two vacant board seats. This is an ongoing governance partnership.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Fraternity members visited for National Day of Reading observance, reading to students and promoting literacy. Demonstrates community engagement in educational enrichment.
• Horry County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOH aligns with Horry County School District policies and follows HCSD dress code guidelines. School uses HCSD PowerSchool Parent Portal for grades and attendance. Rising 8th graders can enroll in Horry County high schools.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Charter Schools USA: Charter Schools USA is one of the largest charter school management organizations in the country, operating schools across multiple states. Comparable as a scaled operator of tuition-free public charter schools with similar state/federal funding exposure.
• Great Hearts Academies: Great Hearts Academies is a charter management organization operating classical-education public charter schools across multiple states. Comparable as a scaled charter operator with a character- and virtue-driven educational philosophy that aligns with the Academy of Hope's stated mission.
• National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is a charter management organization operating 90+ public charter schools nationwide, with a focus on underserved communities. Comparable as a scaled charter operator serving similar Title I-eligible populations.
• BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS Charter Schools is a national network of tuition-free public charter schools known for rigorous STEM and liberal arts curricula. Comparable as a large-scale charter operator under a tuition-free public charter model, though with a different academic emphasis.
• KIPP Public Schools: KIPP is one of the largest public charter networks in the United States, operating more than 250 schools focused on college preparation for underserved communities. Comparable in mission and demographics served, though materially larger in scale and geographic footprint than the Academy of Hope.

Direct peers

• Palmetto Scholars Academy: Palmetto Scholars Academy is a South Carolina public charter school serving grades K-12 with a focus on gifted and talented education. Like the Academy of Hope, it operates as a tuition-free SC charter under the same state regulatory framework and funding model.
• Bridges Preparatory School: Bridges Preparatory School is a South Carolina public charter school serving K-12 students in the Lowcountry. It shares the Academy of Hope's charter operating model, Title I eligibility framework, and tuition-free public education mission.
• Oceanside Collegiate Academy: Oceanside Collegiate Academy is a South Carolina public charter school serving grades 5-12 in Mount Pleasant with a college-preparatory focus. Comparable as another tuition-free SC charter operating under the same state authorizer and federal funding programs.
• Legacy Early College: Legacy Early College is a public charter school in Greenville, SC that lets students earn college credit while completing high school. As a South Carolina charter school, it shares the Academy of Hope's nonprofit charter status, Title I funding exposure, and tuition-free public education model.

Regional players

• Success Academy Charter Schools: Success Academy is the largest charter school network in New York City, operating K-12 schools focused on high academic outcomes for underserved students. Comparable as a high-performing charter operator serving similar demographics, but geographically concentrated outside the Academy of Hope's market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAcademyofHope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-academy-of-hope

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 The Academy of Hope