University Academy
University Academy is a public charter K-12 college preparatory school serving approximately 1,100 students in the Kansas City Missouri School District, funded by state per-pupil allocations and supported by UMKC charter sponsorship and a separate foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University Academy does
University Academy is a public charter school serving approximately 1,100 PreK-12 students in the Kansas City Missouri School District. Founded in 2000 by Tom Bloch, Lynne Brown, and Barnett and Shirley Helzberg, the school operates under a charter sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and is governed by an independent Board of Directors. It is a private non-profit entity funded primarily through public charter school financing (state and federal education dollars), with no tuition charged to enrolled students. Supplementary revenue comes from facility rentals (theater, gymnasiums, 2,200-seat stadium) and the separate University Academy Foundation, which supports scholarships, dual credit, ACT prep, and alumni programming.
The school delivers a college-preparatory curriculum segmented into Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12), with 78% of faculty holding advanced degrees. Core academic offerings are augmented by 15 athletics teams, a Gifted/Advanced Studies program (grades 2-5), Special Education services under IDEA and Section 504, MOCAP virtual courses, dual credit and AP coursework, and a required 100-hour community service requirement for juniors and seniors. The operations stack is built on Google Workspace for Education, PowerSchool (SIS), Schoology (LMS), SchoolMint (enrollment), ClassLink (SSO), SchoolPay (billing), Nutrislice (menus), and Gaggle SpeakUp for Safety (24/7 monitored tipline). Technology is distributed through a 1:1 device program for grades 5+.
University Academy's documented outcomes include 100% college acceptance for seniors since 2004, a 6-year college completion rate 5x the national average for lowest-quartile income students, and $6.6M in scholarship offers for the Class of 2022. The school has accumulated recognitions including National Blue Ribbon School (2017, first Missouri charter to receive it), National Title I Distinguished School (2016), U.S. News & World Report top high school recognition, and consistent 100% Annual Performance Report scores. The 2025 Board-adopted Strategic Plan sets three pillars: Academic Excellence, Social-Emotional Intelligence, and Community Contributions.
University Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University Academy
- Legal name
- University Academy
- Website
- https://universityacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- University Academy is a public charter K-12 college preparatory school serving approximately 1,100 students in the Kansas City Missouri School District, funded by state per-pupil allocations and supported by UMKC charter sponsorship and a separate foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)
Keywords
Where University Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
University Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Public Charter School Funding: Funded through public charter school financing as a public education institution. Operates under UMKC charter sponsorship.
- Free Meals Program (CEP): Participates in Community Eligibility Provision program providing free breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge for the 2026-27 school year.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free public education for all students |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Facility rental rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
University Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
University Academy is a tuition-free PreK-12 public charter school serving approximately 1,100 students in the Kansas City Missouri School District with a college preparatory curriculum delivered across Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12) divisions. It sells no tuition; instead, funded through public charter financing under its UMKC sponsorship, the school provides academic instruction, athletics, arts, special education, gifted programming, school counseling, transportation, meals, and other support services. Ancillary fee-based offerings include facility rentals (gymnasiums, auditorium, stadium, classrooms) for community use.
Product overview
University Academy operates as a single unified K-12 college-preparatory public charter school with three distinct divisions (Lower School K-5, Middle School 6-8, Upper School 9-12) working as an integrated educational system. The school provides comprehensive educational services including core college-preparatory academics, 15 athletics programs, extensive extracurricular clubs and arts, special education, gifted programming, and virtual course options through MOCAP. Supporting services include technology (1:1 program), library/media center, health services with dental clinic partnership, transportation, food services, and facility rentals. The school integrates with PowerSchool for student information management, Schoology for learning management, and Gaggle for safety reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College Preparatory Education (PreK-12) Comprehensive college-preparatory public charter school education from PreK through 12th grade with emphasis on college preparation, career development, community service, and leadership. Serves approximately 1,100 students from the Kansas City Missouri School District.
- Lower School (K-5) Elementary education program for grades K-5 with foundational academic skills and enrichment programs including Spanish, Art, PE, Music, and Computers.
- Middle School (6-8) Middle school program for grades 6-8 offering core subjects (Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies) plus electives including Business, Computers, PLTW, Debate, Band, Choir, and Physical Education.
- Upper School (9-12) High school program for grades 9-12 preparing students for college with college-preparatory curriculum, AP courses, dual credit options, study abroad programs, and comprehensive college counseling services. Maintains 100% college acceptance rate for seniors since 2004.
- Athletics Program Athletics program featuring 15 teams including Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Boys/Girls Basketball, Track, Baseball, Soccer, and Wrestling. Operates under the Crossroads Conference athletic association.
- Clubs, Activities & Arts Extracurricular offerings including Academic Decathlon, National Honor Society, Student Council, Science Olympiad, Debate, Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Choir, Show Choir, Art classes (Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture), and AP Studio Art.
- Special Education Services Special education and related services for eligible students with disabilities, including IEP development, Section 504 accommodations, Extended School Year services, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Recognized by the National Association of Special Education Teachers.
- Gifted/Advanced Studies Program Gifted instruction program using SAGES and NNAT3 assessments for eligibility. Offered in grades 2-5 with small group enrichment for kindergarten and first grade. Students must score higher than 75% on both assessments.
- Technology Program (1:1) 1:1 technology program where students in grade 5 and up use individual network accounts for computer activities. Includes technology acceptable use policy and parent/guardian technology agreements.
- Community Service Program Required community service program where students must complete 100 hours at non-profit organizations during junior and senior year. Administered by Mr. Burdette with college connections postings.
- School Counseling Program Comprehensive guidance program across all grade levels delivering personal/social, academic, and career development services. Includes four-year academic planning, career exploration, post-secondary planning, and ACT preparation.
- Food Services School meal program participating in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) providing free breakfast and lunch to all students. Menu management through Nutrislice platform with meal accommodations for food allergies.
- Transportation Services Bus transportation provided by Blue Knight Transportation for students living one mile or more from campus. Includes route management, special transportation requests, and end-of-day change procedures.
- Health and Dental Services School nursing services including health screenings, medication administration, illness management, immunization tracking, and food allergy accommodations, plus on-site dental clinic through Swope Health KidsCARE partnership.
- Facility Rentals Rental of school facilities including Shirley Bush Helzberg Theater, Mayerberg Room, Elementary and Secondary Gymnasiums, Auditorium/Performance Space, and Outdoor Stadium (2,200 seating capacity). Hourly rates from $50 to $250 plus staffing/deposit fees.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% college acceptance rate for seniors since 2004
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use University Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
University Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature2 records
University Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Swope Health KidsCAREcoreOn-site dental clinic serving students, families, and faculty regardless of ability to pay. Open Monday-Wednesday with preventative and restorative services.
- Children's Mercy HospitalcorePrepped and Ready educational video series for parents on teen health topics including vaping, safe storage, and difficult conversations
- Flexible EducatorsminorRecruits, hires, trains, and manages substitute teachers and support staff since November 2019
- Big Brothers Big SisterscoreYouth mentorship program partnership providing mentoring opportunities for students
- Alvin AileycoreArts education partnership through Kansas City Flamenco Academy
- Kansas City SymphonycoreMusic education and arts enrichment partnership
- Kansas City Young AudiencescoreArts education programming partnership
- Kauffman ScholarscoreCollege preparation and mentorship program for students
- Gagglecore24/7 SpeakUp for Safety tipline integrated with Google Workspace. Monitors threats, bullying, and student crisis. Routes non-life-threatening tips to staff; alerts law enforcement for urgent situations.
- Blue Knight TransportationcoreBus transportation provider for students living 1+ mile from campus
- Kansas City YMCAcoreBefore and after school program (Y-Club) for working families
- University Academy FoundationcoreNonprofit supporting UA students and alumni with programs including dual credit courses, ACT prep, summer camps, study abroad, scholarships, and internship opportunities
- University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)coreCharter school sponsor providing oversight and guidance. Charter originally sponsored for 5 years, renewed for 10 years in 2005. UMKC Charter School Center monitors performance.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Great Hearts Academies: Multi-state network of classical, college-prep charter and tuition-funded academies. Comparable to University Academy on the college-prep curriculum and rigorous academic outcomes dimension, but operates across multiple states with mixed public/private funding.
- KIPP Foundation: National network of college-prep charter public schools serving predominantly low-income communities. KIPP's KC affiliate directly competes with University Academy; the foundation sets the broader playbook and comparable outcomes framework.
- BASIS Charter Schools: National K-12 college-prep charter network known for AP-heavy curriculum and high college placement rates. Comparable in mission to University Academy (college-prep, top-tier outcomes) but operates as a multi-site CMO with national reach rather than a single-site school.
- IDEA Public Schools: Multi-state charter network operating college-prep public schools with strong outcomes for low-income students. Comparable to University Academy on Title I reliance, college-prep focus, and college-acceptance outcomes, but at CMO scale.
- Success Academy Charter Schools: Large NYC-based charter network with strong college-prep outcomes for low-income urban students. Comparable to University Academy on rigorous academics and high-achievement outcomes for under-served populations, but at much larger network scale.
Direct peers
- Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy: Single-gender K-12 college preparatory public charter school serving Kansas City students. Competes directly with University Academy for the same families seeking rigorous, mission-driven college-prep education in the urban core.
- KIPP Kansas City: KIPP Kansas City is a network of public charter schools serving the same Kansas City Missouri School District catchment with a similar college-prep mission. Operationally similar to University Academy in serving urban, predominantly low-income KC families with a college-prep focus and 1:1 technology integration.
- Academia del Rey / Unbound (Cristo Rey KC): Cristo Rey network affiliate serving Kansas City with a college-prep, work-study integrated model. Comparable private-school-equivalent mission and demographics, drawing from overlapping Catholic and low-income KC families.
- Crossroads Charter Schools: Crossroads operates quality public charter schools in the Kansas City metropolitan area serving grades K-12. Direct local competitor for the same district-resident families and public charter funding pool as University Academy.
- Alta Vista Charter High School: Kansas City charter high school serving a similar urban, college-prep mission with an emphasis on social-emotional learning. Competes for the same Title I-eligible student population and the same donor and partner ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
University Academy social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
University Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles26 records
University Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University Academy
What does University Academy do?
University Academy is a tuition-free PreK-12 public charter school serving approximately 1,100 students in the Kansas City Missouri School District with a college preparatory curriculum delivered across Lower School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12) divisions. It sells no tuition; instead, funded through public charter financing under its UMKC sponsorship, the school provides academic instruction, athletics, arts, special education, gifted programming, school counseling, transportation, meals, and other support services. Ancillary fee-based offerings include facility rentals (gymnasiums, auditorium, stadium, classrooms) for community use.
Is University Academy a public or private company?
University Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was University Academy founded?
University Academy was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is University Academy based?
University Academy is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does University Academy make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Charter School Funding is the primary driver. The others are free Meals Program (CEP).
Who are University Academy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Great Hearts Academies, KIPP Foundation, BASIS Charter Schools, IDEA Public Schools and Success Academy Charter Schools. Direct peers are Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, KIPP Kansas City, Academia del Rey / Unbound (Cristo Rey KC), Crossroads Charter Schools and Alta Vista Charter High School.
Does University Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for University Academy.
What industry is University Academy in?
University Academy's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJACAF, Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.