Axis International Academy

What Axis International Academy does

AXIS International Academy is a public dual language immersion charter school operating in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded in 2018 by Kari Anne Calarco and Jenny Whitaker, the school serves students from preschool (ages 3-5) through 6th grade, offering academic instruction in English paired with full immersion in Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese. The school operates from a single campus at 2700 S. Lemay Avenue (relocated there in April 2022) and is authorized and accredited by the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI), with additional oversight from the Colorado Department of Education under the Student Data Transparency and Security Act.

The school's curriculum integrates several specialized frameworks: Core Knowledge Sequence (content-rich preschool curriculum aligned with research-based practices), Singapore Math, Handwriting Without Tears, and Yale's RULER social-emotional learning program, delivered through total physical response and repetition-based immersion strategies with 60 minutes of daily partner-language instruction. The K-5/6 program is tuition-free as a publicly funded charter, while the preschool/pre-K operates on a tuition-based model (with full-day and half-day tiers introduced for 2024-25). Supplementary revenue streams include grants (notably a $75,000 Daniels Fund award in 2019) and a before/after care partnership with AlphaBEST. Administrative technology is conventional, centered on the Infinite Campus student information system portal.

AXIS relies primarily on word-of-mouth family referrals (formalized through a $100/$50 Family Referral Program) as its go-to-market motion, supplemented by information sessions, community events, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), Google reviews, and yard-sign campaigns. The school maintains family transparency through published handbooks, newsletters, and an active Board of Directors that includes Colorado State University faculty and local nonprofit executives. With approximately 40 staff members and consecutive Performance with Distinction ratings from CSI placing it in the top 25% of Colorado public schools, AXIS has also earned the Label Francéducation certification from the French Government (2023) and the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award (2024).

Name

Axis International Academy

Legal name

AXIS International Academy

Website

https://axiscolorado.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AXIS International Academy is a public dual language immersion charter school in Fort Collins, Colorado, serving students from preschool through 6th grade with English instruction paired with full immersion in Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bilingual & Language-Immersion Early Learning Academies (EDACADAG)

Keywords

• Dual language immersion
• Public charter school
• Early childhood education
• Elementary education
• Multilingual education

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a publicly funded charter school, AXIS receives per-pupil funding from the state of Colorado based on student enrollment. This is the primary revenue stream for the K-5 program.
2. Preschool Tuition: Tuition-based preschool program for students ages 3-5. The preschool operates on a different funding model than the public K-5 program.
3. Grants and Donations: AXIS receives grants from foundations like the Daniels Fund ($75,000 grant received) and community donations to support classrooms, teacher compensation, and educational programs.
4. Before and After Care: AlphaBEST provides before and after school care programs on campus. Families pay for this supplementary care service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Axis International Academy is a public dual language immersion charter school in Fort Collins, Colorado, providing tuition-free kindergarten through 6th grade education alongside a tuition-based preschool program for ages 3-5. Students learn academic content in English while acquiring proficiency in a partner language (Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese) through 60 minutes of daily immersion instruction. The school integrates Core Knowledge Sequence, Singapore Math, Handwriting Without Tears, and Yale's RULER social-emotional learning program.

Product overview

AXIS International Academy operates as a dual language immersion charter school network comprising two primary educational programs: a tuition-free public K-6 charter school and a tuition-based preschool/pre-K program. Students receive academic instruction in English while developing proficiency in a partner language (Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese) through 60 minutes of daily immersion instruction. The school integrates specialized curricula including Core Knowledge Sequence, Singapore Math, Handwriting Without Tears, and Yale's RULER social-emotional program. Extended care options are available through AXIS Enrich and a partnership with AlphaBEST for before and after school care. Parents access student information through the Infinite Campus portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AXIS International Academy K-6 Charter School Program A public, tuition-free dual language immersion charter school program serving kindergarten through 6th grade students. Students learn academic content in English while acquiring proficiency in a partner language (Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese) through daily immersion instruction. Funded by per-pupil state funding and authorized by the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI).
• AXIS International Academy Preschool and Prekindergarten Program A tuition-based preschool and prekindergarten program for students ages 3-5, offering dual language learning in French, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish with 60 minutes of daily partner language instruction. Includes Core Knowledge Sequence, Singapore Math, Handwriting Without Tears, and Yale RULER social-emotional curriculum. Full day and half day Prekindergarten options available. Accepts CCAP and other scholarships; free breakfast and lunch provided.
• AXIS Half Day Prekindergarten Program A tuition-based half-day Prekindergarten program introduced for the 2024-25 school year, providing language enrichment in Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese for preschool-age children.
• Before and After School Care (AlphaBEST Partnership)

Named customers3 records

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AlphaBESTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlphaBEST provides before and after school care programs on the AXIS campus. They offer a fun, safe, and enriching environment with extended hours from 7:00 AM before school and 3:10 PM to 5:30 PM after school. The partnership accepts CCAP and other scholarship programs to make childcare accessible to more families.
• Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI)coreOthersCSI is AXIS's authorizer, responsible for evaluating and accrediting the school annually based on academic, financial, and organizational performance through the CARS (Annual Review of Schools) framework. CSI balances autonomy and accountability for charter schools.
• Colorado Department of EducationcoreOthersCDE oversees public education in Colorado and maintains data dictionaries and student data inventories that AXIS complies with under the Student Data Transparency and Security Act.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Liberty Common School: Public charter school in Fort Collins, Colorado serving K-12 with a classical liberal arts focus. Same authorizer environment (Colorado charter system), same Northern Colorado market, and same family demographic, though pedagogically distinct (classical rather than immersion).
• Ridgeview Classical Schools: Public charter school in Fort Collins offering a classical, content-rich K-12 education. Competes for the same Fort Collins families considering AXIS, with comparable funding model and regulatory oversight under Colorado charter framework.
• Compass Community Collaborative School: Public charter school in Fort Collins, Colorado serving K-12 with project-based and expeditionary learning. Same market, same charter authorizer environment, and same family demographic as AXIS, though pedagogically focused on expeditionary rather than immersion education.

Direct peers

• Global Village Academy: Colorado-based public charter school network offering full language immersion in multiple languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin, etc.). Directly comparable to AXIS on charter-authorization model, immersion pedagogy, K-6 grade span, and target family demographic, though operating multiple campuses in the Denver metro area.
• Academia Language Immersion: Spanish-English dual immersion charter schools serving elementary students across multiple states. Closely comparable on dual-language immersion model, charter authorization, and K-5 grade span, serving as a benchmark for multi-site immersion replication.
• International School of Boulder: Private/nonprofit school in Colorado offering IB curriculum with strong language and international focus. Comparable to AXIS on international curriculum, multilingual immersion, and K-8 age range, though operates as a private tuition-based model rather than public charter.
• Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer: Spanish-English dual language immersion charter school in Colorado serving K-5 students. Closely comparable to AXIS on dual-language immersion methodology, charter authorization, and tuition-free public model. Operates in Eagle County, providing a regional contrast for demand patterns.

Broad incumbents

• DSST Public Schools: One of the largest and highest-performing public charter networks in Colorado, operating multiple campuses across the Denver metro area with a STEM and college-prep focus. Comparable on charter authorization, performance accountability (CARS framework), and Colorado public-school funding model, but operates at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChY9zNFdONZkgO64q2IO1ew
• Facebookfacebook.com/AXISColorado
• Instagraminstagram.com/axis.international.academy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/axis-international-academy

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 Axis International Academy