Phoenix Charter Academy

What Phoenix Charter Academy does

Phoenix Charter Academy is a Massachusetts nonprofit Charter Management Organization operating three tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter high schools (Chelsea, Lawrence, Springfield) that serve roughly 500 students ages 14-22, many of whom have been disconnected from traditional public schools. Founded in 2006 by Beth Anderson, the network uses a competency-based, self-paced blended learning model layered with what it calls "Relentless Supports": a Primary Person Model assigning each student a dedicated adult, restorative justice school culture, mental health and counseling services, dual-enrollment college credits, career pathway programming via Phoenix HT2 (Health, Trades, and Technology), and an on-site Little Scholars child development center enabling young parents to complete high school alongside their children.

The organization reports network-wide outcomes of 100% college acceptance, 79% college enrollment, and 75% two-semester-plus persistence, with 150+ graduates over ten years. Operationally, each campus has a Head of School while a centralized Phoenix Network / Statewide Team in Boston provides shared services in data and accountability, teacher development, restorative practice, post-secondary success, development, talent, and operations. The mix of students varies by campus: Chelsea is 67% English Language Learners, Lawrence is 93% Hispanic and 40% court-involved, and Springfield is 39% special education and 37% formerly truant/dropout.

Phoenix's revenue model is dominated by per-pupil tuition from Massachusetts state charter school funding, supplemented by private donations to its 501(c)(3) Phoenix Charter Academy Foundation and competitive public grants such as the 2023 Cummings Foundation $225,000 three-year award and a 2025 multi-year $500,000 Cummings grant supporting the Primary Person Model and broader student programming. No private equity, venture capital, or parent-company ownership is reported. Marketing and recruitment rely on community engagement, word-of-mouth, social-service referrals, the school's own website, and Community Engagement & Recruitment Specialists; there is no tuition or fees charged to families.

Name

Phoenix Charter Academy

Legal name

Phoenix Charter Academy

Website

https://phoenixcharteracademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Phoenix Charter Academy is a Massachusetts nonprofit Charter Management Organization operating three tuition-free public charter high schools that serve over 500 systemically marginalized students ages 14-22 in Chelsea, Lawrence, and Springfield through competency-based academics and wraparound supports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Secondary Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB), Charter Alternative & At-Risk Schools (Continuation, Credit Recovery, Juvenile) (EDAJACAE), Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Charter high school
• Public charter education
• Alternative high school
• College preparatory program
• Youth dropout recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Chelsea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Tuition: Phoenix schools are primarily funded by public funds in the form of per-pupil tuition dollars from Massachusetts state funding for charter schools. This is the core operational funding.
2. Private Donations: The Phoenix Charter Academy Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that accepts private donations from individuals and organizations. Donations support programs like the Primary Person Model, Little Scholars Center, college tuition assistance, and mental health supports.
3. Competitive Public Grants: Some programs and priorities are funded by competitive public grants. Examples include Cummings Foundation $225,000 grant over 3 years for Primary Person Model and advisory programming.
4. Phoenix HT2 Program: Health, Trades, and Technology program providing career experiences such as internships to prepare students for careers in high-growth industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Phoenix Charter Academy operates three free, open-enrollment public charter high schools (Chelsea, Lawrence, Springfield) serving systemically marginalized students ages 14–22 in Massachusetts Gateway Cities. Its core offering is tuition-free college preparatory high school education delivered through a competency-based, self-paced blended learning model paired with the Primary Person Model of individualized student support. The network supplements core academics with on-site childcare (Little Scholars), dual-enrollment college credit programs, and the Phoenix HT2 (Health, Trades, and Technology) career pathway program.

Product overview

Phoenix Charter Academy Network is a unified platform of three open-enrollment, college and career preparatory public charter high schools in Massachusetts (Chelsea, Lawrence, and Springfield). The schools serve over 500 systemically marginalized students ages 14-22 through a combination of rigorous academics and the Primary Person Model of student support. The network offers supplementary programs including the Little Scholars child development center for young parents, dual-enrollment college programs, and the Phoenix HT2 (Health, Trades, and Technology) career pathway program. All schools use a competency-based, self-paced blended learning model to help students earn high school diplomas and succeed in college or career pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Phoenix HT2: Health, Trades, and Technology program preparing students for careers in high-growth industries
• Little Scholars

Products and services

• Phoenix Charter Academy Chelsea A free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter high school founded in 2006 in Chelsea, Massachusetts serving 198 systemically marginalized students ages 14–22; 67% English Language Learners, 48% over age 19, 34% formerly truant/dropout.
• Phoenix Charter Academy Lawrence A free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter high school founded in 2012 in Lawrence, Massachusetts serving 125 students ages 14–22; 93% Hispanic, 40% court-involved/formerly court-involved, 34% receiving special education services.
• Phoenix Charter Academy Springfield A free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter high school founded on September 8, 2014 in Springfield, Massachusetts serving 205 students from Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee; 22% over age 19, 37% formerly truant/dropout, 39% receiving special education services.
• Phoenix HT2 (Health, Trades, and Technology Program) Career experiences program including internships that prepares Phoenix students for careers in high-growth industries across health, trades, and technology sectors.
• Little Scholars Child Development Center An on-site child development center allowing young parents attending Phoenix Academy Lawrence to pursue their high school diplomas while their infants and toddlers receive daycare and early childhood education in the same building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate for all graduates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Benjamin Franklin Institute of TechnologyminorOthersThe annual Ignite the Future Gala was held at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, home to many Phoenix alums. This is a venue partnership for the fundraising event.
• AmeriCorps FellowshipcoreOthersPhoenix operates an AmeriCorps Fellowship program at their schools, with members serving in various roles including the Lawrence AmeriCorps Program Manager position. The organization works with AmeriCorps Fellows who bring talent and energy to make a change in education.
• Associate Leadership BoardminorOthersA group of young professionals in Massachusetts dedicated to amplifying the work of Phoenix's teachers and students. The ALB provides direct service to Phoenix's students through college and career mentorship.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Uncommon Schools: Large multi-state nonprofit charter management organization serving predominantly low-income students with rigorous college-prep model. Comparable as a high-performing urban charter CMO; some Phoenix educators previously worked at Uncommon Schools. Larger and better resourced than Phoenix, operating as a broader incumbent.
• Achievement First: Large nonprofit charter management organization operating schools across Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island serving predominantly low-income students with college-prep focus. Comparable CMO model and target population; larger scale and geographic diversification than Phoenix.
• IDEA Public Schools: One of the largest US charter management organizations serving K-12 students in Texas, Louisiana, and other states with college-prep focus. Comparable as a scaled charter CMO serving high-need populations; far larger and multi-state, making it a broader incumbent reference point.

Direct peers

• Prospect Hill Academy Charter School: Cambridge, MA charter school serving K-12 with restorative justice culture and diverse urban student body. Comparable as a MA charter with restorative justice practices and ELL populations; some Phoenix leadership previously worked at Prospect Hill Academy.
• City on a Hill Charter Public Schools: Massachusetts charter network operating schools in Boston and New Bedford serving high-need youth with college-prep focus. Directly comparable as a MA charter network with similar student demographics; some Phoenix staff previously taught at City on a Hill.
• MATCH Charter Schools: Boston-based nonprofit charter school network serving high-need urban students with extended-day model and college-prep focus. Directly comparable as a small MA charter network serving similar demographics and competing for the same teacher and student pipelines.
• KIPP Massachusetts: Massachusetts regional affiliate of the national KIPP charter network serving Lynn, Boston, and surrounding communities with college-prep focus for high-need students. Comparable MA geography, charter network structure, and mission-aligned student population.
• Brooke Charter Schools: Boston-based nonprofit charter management organization operating multiple campuses serving predominantly low-income, minority students with rigorous college-prep focus. Comparable in scale, mission, MA geography, and charter funding model.

Regional players

• Lawrence Public Schools: Public school district serving the same Lawrence, MA community where Phoenix Lawrence operates. Comparable as the primary district alternative for the same target population; provides the most direct competitive context for enrollment and outcomes benchmarking.
• Springfield Public Schools: Public school district serving Springfield, MA, where Phoenix Springfield also recruits students. Comparable as the traditional public alternative for the same target population; Phoenix Lawrence leadership previously served in this district, evidencing close operational overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PhoenixCharterSchools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Phoenix Charter Academy