Concept Schools
Concept Schools is a nonprofit charter management organization operating 40+ STEM-focused, college-preparatory charter campuses across the U.S. Midwest, serving over 16,000 K-12 students in historically underserved communities through centralized academic, financial, and operational services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSchaumburg, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Concept Schools does
Concept Schools is a nonprofit charter school management organization headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, that operates more than 40 charter campuses across seven U.S. Midwest states: Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Indiana, and Iowa. Founded in 1999 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) entity, the network provides STEM-focused, college-preparatory education to more than 16,000 K-12 students, with an explicit mission to serve historically underserved communities. The portfolio includes Chicago Math and Science Academy (CMSA), the Horizon Science Academy network, Noble Academy schools, Gateway Science Academy, and state-specific Math and Science Academies in Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana. The organization reports nearly 100% graduation and college acceptance rates, 10,000+ high school graduates since 1999, and more than $400 million in cumulative academic scholarships earned by graduates.
The organization's core product is centralized academic, financial, and operational services delivered through regional offices staffed by regional superintendents (nine regions) and a central leadership team including a Director of Teaching & Learning, Director of External Affairs, Director of Operations, and Data Compliance Officer. The educational model uses academic and behavioral data analytics to provide differentiated instruction. Beyond K-12 operations, Concept Schools has built a portfolio of proprietary enrichment programs: MathCON (national mathematics competition with 777 finalists in 2026), STEMCON, CONSEF (science and engineering fair), RoboCON (robotics competition), Codeathon, Art & Language Festival, Spoken Word, Writing Contest, the Concept Young Scholars Program, and SevenSky. The Future Institute (FLI/FLIHS) provides college transition and career support, and the Concept Alumni Network maintains lifelong engagement with more than 10,000 graduates via an Almabase-powered platform with Facebook and LinkedIn SSO integrations.
Revenue is generated primarily through per-pupil state and federal public funding allocated to each charter school campus based on enrollment, supplemented by philanthropic investment. As a public charter network, Concept Schools provides tuition-free education to students. In December 2025, the organization received a $5.5 million investment from the Charter School Growth Fund following a rigorous evaluation process, designated for expansion and capacity-building. Charter authorizations are held from multiple entities including Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education, alongside state education departments in Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Indiana, and Iowa. Marketing and enrollment operate through a community-led, multi-channel approach combining the main corporate website, a dedicated enrollment portal (enroll.conceptschools.org), news content, and organic social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram). The organization is not publicly traded and discloses no venture capital or private equity ownership.
Concept Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Concept Schools
- Legal name
- Concept Schools
- Website
- https://conceptschools.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Concept Schools is a nonprofit charter management organization operating 40+ STEM-focused, college-preparatory charter campuses across the U.S. Midwest, serving over 16,000 K-12 students in historically underserved communities through centralized academic, financial, and operational services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Concept Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)
Keywords
Where Concept Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schaumburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Concept Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school network, Concept Schools receives per-pupil state funding based on enrollment. This is the primary funding mechanism for charter schools.
- Philanthropic Investment: The organization receives investment from foundations like Charter School Growth Fund to support expansion and capacity-building efforts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Concept Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Concept Schools is a nonprofit charter school management organization that operates a network of STEM-focused, college-preparatory public charter schools serving K-12 students. The organization provides tuition-free public education with a STEM-based, college-preparatory curriculum across multiple school campuses. It centralizes operational, academic, and administrative support for the schools in its network.
Product overview
Concept Schools operates as a unified network of 40+ charter schools providing STEM-focused, college-preparatory education. The portfolio includes core school operations supplemented by competitive programs (MathCON, STEMCON, CONSEF, RoboCON, Codeathon), the Concept Alumni Network platform for graduate engagement, and Future Institute for college/career transition support. Programs like Art & Language Festival, Spoken Word, Writing Contest, and Teacher of the Year provide enrichment and recognition across the network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Concept Alumni Network: Alumni engagement platform connecting former students with the school network for lifelong networking and support
- Future Institute
- MathCON
- STEMCON
- CONSEF
- RoboCON
- Codeathon
Products and services
- STEM-Focused K-12 Charter School Education Tuition-free K-12 public charter school education with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, designed to prepare students for college. Delivered through a network of school campuses operated by the nonprofit management organization.
- Charter School Network Management Centralized operational, academic, and administrative management services provided to the network of charter schools, including curriculum oversight, teacher training, and back-office support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 100% graduation and college acceptance rates
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Concept Schools
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Concept Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Concept Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Concept Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Charter Schools USA: Charter Schools USA is one of the largest U.S. charter management organizations, operating campuses across multiple states for K-12 students. Comparable to Concept Schools in CMO scale, geographic diversification, and STEM/college-prep orientation.
- Uncommon Schools: Uncommon Schools operates a network of high-performing charter schools in the Northeast with a college-preparatory mission aimed at students from low-income communities. Comparable to Concept Schools in charter CMO operations and rigorous college-prep focus.
- Achievement First: Achievement First is a nonprofit charter management organization running dozens of college-preparatory schools in the Northeast, serving predominantly low-income communities. Concept Schools is comparable in CMO structure, college-prep focus, and demographic mission.
- KIPP Public Schools: KIPP is one of the largest U.S. charter management organizations serving predominantly underserved communities with college-preparatory education. It is comparable to Concept Schools in mission (college prep for underserved students), multi-state scale, and nonprofit CMO structure.
- BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS is a STEM-intensive, college-preparatory charter network with campuses across multiple U.S. states. Like Concept Schools, it operates as a charter management organization targeting high-achieving outcomes for K-12 students through a rigorous STEM-focused curriculum.
- Success Academy Charter Schools: Success Academy is a high-performing, rigorous urban charter network with a STEM-heavy, college-preparatory curriculum. It is comparable to Concept Schools in operator model, academic rigor orientation, and concentration on underserved urban populations.
- IDEA Public Schools: IDEA is a large, multi-state charter network focused on college preparation for underserved students in the South and Midwest. Comparable to Concept Schools in charter CMO structure, college-prep mission, and rapid multi-state expansion.
- Green Dot Public Schools: Green Dot is a nonprofit charter management organization operating multiple college-preparatory campuses, primarily in California and Tennessee. Comparable to Concept Schools in nonprofit CMO model and college-preparatory mission for underserved students.
- National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies is a for-profit charter management organization running over 90 K-8 campuses across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to Concept Schools in CMO structure, multi-state presence, and K-12 charter school management.
Broad incumbents
- EdisonLearning: EdisonLearning is a broad education services provider that partners with school districts and manages charter schools nationwide. It is comparable to Concept Schools as a K-12 education management incumbent with a charter school portfolio alongside district partnerships.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Concept Schools social profiles
Digital presenceConcept Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Concept Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Concept Schools subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Concept Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Concept Schools 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 Concept Schools
What does Concept Schools do?
Concept Schools is a nonprofit charter school management organization that operates a network of STEM-focused, college-preparatory public charter schools serving K-12 students. The organization provides tuition-free public education with a STEM-based, college-preparatory curriculum across multiple school campuses. It centralizes operational, academic, and administrative support for the schools in its network.
Is Concept Schools a public or private company?
Concept Schools is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Concept Schools founded?
Concept Schools was founded in 1999.
Where is Concept Schools based?
Concept Schools is headquartered in Schaumburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Concept Schools make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State Funding is the primary driver. The others are philanthropic Investment.
Who are Concept Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Charter Schools USA, Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, KIPP Public Schools, BASIS Charter Schools, Success Academy Charter Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Green Dot Public Schools and National Heritage Academies. EdisonLearning is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Concept Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Concept Schools.
What industry is Concept Schools in?
Concept Schools's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAK, Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.