The STEAD School

What The STEAD School does

The STEAD School (Science, Technology, Environment, Agriculture, and Design) is a public charter high school operating under Colorado's School District 27J from a 10-acre donated campus in Commerce City, Colorado. It delivers project-based STEM education for grades 9-12, integrating hands-on laboratories, aquaponics, and a student-run one-acre farm (STEAD Farms) with four structured learning pathways in animal, plant, food, and environmental sciences, plus intensive "Hive Weeks" for deep-focus study. The core academic platform is augmented by Advanced Placement courses, a concurrent enrollment program through Aims and Front Range Community Colleges (STEAD funds one college course per semester per qualifying student), and internships with industry partners including Leprino Foods and the Reunion Farmer's Market.

The school was conceived by BuildStrong Education Foundation (Amy Schwartz) and Oakwood Homes (Kelly Leid), received charter authorization from 27J in October 2019, closed a phase-one construction loan in January 2021, and opened in October 2021 with an inaugural ninth-grade cohort of approximately 160-175 students, scaling one grade per year toward a stated full capacity of ~700 students. It graduated its first senior class in May 2025 and is now under Executive Principal Alex Magaña for 2026-27.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through District 27J per-pupil funding (no tuition is charged), with a marginal contribution from the STEAD Farms student microeconomy. Capital formation has come from a $3.5M Stewardship Capital Campaign plus undisclosed construction debt, supplemented by donated land from the Fulenwider family. Cognia accreditation and a 2023 Colorado Civic Medal for Growth and Innovation provide external validation; ongoing partnerships with Reunion-area agribusinesses and two community colleges create the applied-learning layer that distinguishes the model.

Name

The STEAD School

Legal name

The STEAD School

Website

https://thesteadschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools (EDAJACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Project-based learning
• STEM education
• Agricultural education
• Charter high school
• Career pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Commerce City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding: As a District 27J public charter school, STEAD receives per-pupil funding from the school district based on enrollment. The school also participates in the free and reduced lunch program.
2. Concurrent Enrollment Revenue: Students can take one concurrent enrollment course per semester paid for by STEAD. STEAD covers tuition for qualifying courses through partnerships with Aims and Front Range Community College.
3. STEAD Farms Revenue: Student-run farm microeconomy where students design, produce, market and sell entrepreneurial products. Revenue supports new learning and support programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The STEAD School delivers project-based STEM education to grades 9-12 on a 10-acre campus featuring a one-acre student-run farm, aquaponics laboratories, and four career learning pathways in animal, plant, food, and environmental science. As a public charter school under Colorado's School District 27J, it offers Advanced Placement courses, concurrent enrollment with Aims and Front Range Community College, and work-based internships to prepare students for college and agricultural/STEM careers.

Product overview

The STEAD School is a project-based STEM charter high school offering a unified educational program centered on next-generation agriculture. The core offerings include the project-based STEM curriculum, STEAD Farms (a one-acre working farm), and four career pathways (animal, plant, environmental, and food sciences). Additional offerings include AP courses, concurrent enrollment through partnerships with Aims and Front Range Community Colleges, Hive Weeks intensive learning periods, and athletics. The school serves grades 9-12 and prepares students for college and careers in agriculture, science, and related fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project-Based STEM Curriculum
• STEAD Farms
• Concurrent Enrollment Program
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
• Career Pathways & Internships Program
• Hive Weeks (Accelerator Weeks)
• Athletics Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students graduate with college credits, professional portfolios, and post-secondary plans
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aims Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for concurrent enrollment programs allowing STEAD students to earn college credit while in high school. STEAD covers tuition for qualifying courses through this partnership.
• Front Range Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for concurrent enrollment programs allowing STEAD students to earn college credit while in high school. STEAD covers tuition for one course per semester for qualifying students.
• Reunion Farmer's MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity farmer's market hosted in the STEAD School parking lot. Students market and sell agricultural products to market patrons, providing real-world entrepreneurial experience.
• Roberto MezaminorOthersBoard member and co-founder of Emerald Gardens (microgreens and edible flowers business). Chair of membership and outreach for Mile High Farmers, member of Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council.
• Ashley DeLorenzominorOthersBoard member with over 10 years of experience in talent acquisition, including recent focus in agriculture. Active member of Denver Recruiter Advisory Board.
• Leprino FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner working with STEAD students in science labs, providing real-world exposure to food science and agricultural industry applications.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• High Tech High: A network of public charter high schools in San Diego using project-based learning, internships, and exhibitions as core pedagogy. Directly comparable to STEAD on pedagogy (project-based, real-world) and structure (public charter secondary schools).
• John Bowne High School: A New York City public high school with one of the nation's largest urban agricultural sciences programs, including livestock and a working farm. Comparable as a public secondary school using hands-on agriculture to drive college and career readiness.
• Delaware Valley Regional High School: A public regional high school in Flemington, NJ operating an extensive agricultural education program with FFA, animal science, and plant science pathways. Closely comparable to STEAD in offering agriculture-focused secondary public education with hands-on career pathways.
• Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences: A public magnet high school in Chicago focused on agricultural sciences with project-based learning, FFA, and career pathways closely mirroring STEAD's model. Both serve grades 9-12 and target the same workforce gap in agricultural careers.
• BASIS Charter Schools: A network of STEM-focused public charter schools known for advanced academics, AP coursework, and college-prep outcomes. Comparable to STEAD as a STEM charter school emphasizing rigorous academics, AP options, and college-readiness.
• New Tech Network: A national network of public and charter schools using project-based learning as a core instructional model, with a strong focus on workforce and college readiness. Comparable to STEAD on pedagogy and outcomes framework.
• Da Vinci Schools: A network of public charter schools in El Segundo, California offering project-based learning with STEM, design, and real-world application. Closely comparable on project-based STEM charter model serving secondary students.

Emerging players

• Envision Schools: A small network of public charter high schools in the Bay Area implementing project-based learning with portfolio-based assessments. Comparable to STEAD as a project-based charter secondary school, though smaller in scale.
• Big Picture Learning: A national network of public and charter schools using project-based learning anchored in individualized student interests and workplace internships. Comparable to STEAD's internship/work-based learning and project-based architecture.

Broad incumbents

• IDEA Public Schools: One of the largest public charter networks in the U.S. with a STEM and college-prep focus across many campuses. Comparable to STEAD as a charter school operator with STEM emphasis, though at vastly larger scale and with multi-state reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thesteadschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/The-STEAD-School
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-stead-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 STEAD School