ReferencePoint Press
ReferencePoint Press is a privately held San Diego-based educational book publisher producing Hi-Lo YA nonfiction for grades 6-12 across two imprints, ReferencePoint Press and BrightPoint Press. The company sells hardcover books, eBooks, series sets, and subscription packages to schools, libraries, and individuals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ReferencePoint Press does
ReferencePoint Press is a privately held educational book publisher headquartered in San Diego, California, specializing in Hi-Lo YA nonfiction — high-interest content calibrated to lower reading levels — for grades 6-12. The company operates two imprints: the primary ReferencePoint Press imprint covering standard-level nonfiction across 19+ subject categories including current issues, careers, health, science and technology, mythology, history, and social-emotional learning, and the BrightPoint Press imprint focused on grades 3-4 reading level content for struggling readers.
The product portfolio comprises more than 680 titles delivered in hardcover print editions (typically 64-80 pages with full-color photos, sidebars, glossaries, source notes, and reinforced library bindings), individual eBooks, curated series sets, and eBook subscription packages. Digital distribution is operated through a wholly-owned subsidiary, ReferencePoint Digital. Titles are priced at roughly $33-$47 per hardcover with school-and-library (S&L) discounts, $5.00 per title for eBook subscriptions, and $135-$472 for complete series sets.
The business generates revenue through direct e-commerce sales to schools, libraries, and individual consumers via referencepointpress.com and referencepointdigital.com, with specialized S&L pricing for institutional purchasers. Distribution is domestic (United States) and the company shows no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or public listing. Recognition includes the 2025 ASJA Award for Best Children/Young Adult Nonfiction and multiple Kirkus Reviews mentions across 2025-2026.
ReferencePoint Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ReferencePoint Press
- Legal name
- ReferencePoint Press
- Website
- https://referencepointpress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ReferencePoint Press is a privately held San Diego-based educational book publisher producing Hi-Lo YA nonfiction for grades 6-12 across two imprints, ReferencePoint Press and BrightPoint Press. The company sells hardcover books, eBooks, series sets, and subscription packages to schools, libraries, and individuals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ReferencePoint Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC), Teen/Young Adult Educational Nonfiction (College/Career, Health, Civics) (EDAGAIAI), Children’s Reference & Informational Series Publishing (MPAJAFAN)
Keywords
Where ReferencePoint Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ReferencePoint Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Hardcover Book Sales: Sale of physical hardcover books to schools, libraries, and individuals. Individual titles range from $40-47, with series sets available at various price points. S&L (School & Library) pricing is typically offered at a discount.
- eBook Sales and Subscriptions: Digital content sales including individual eBook purchases and subscription packages. eBook Subscription Packages available for $5.00/title. Multi-user eBook access with 24/7 availability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single Title Hardcover |
| Subscription | Monthly | eBook Subscription Package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Series Sets (Hardcover) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
ReferencePoint Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ReferencePoint Press publishes educational nonfiction books for young adults in grades 6-12, sold as hardcover print editions and eBooks through two imprints: the primary ReferencePoint Press imprint for standard-level nonfiction and BrightPoint Press for Hi-Lo (high-interest, lower reading level) content aimed at reluctant readers. The catalog includes individual single titles, curated series sets of 4-7 titles, and eBook subscription packages priced at $5.00 per title for schools, libraries, and individual buyers.
Product overview
ReferencePoint Press is a publisher of educational nonfiction books for young adults in grades 6-12, offering both hardcover print editions and eBooks. The company operates two imprints: the primary ReferencePoint Press imprint for standard-level content and BrightPoint Press for Hi-Lo (high-interest, lower reading level) nonfiction. Products include individual single titles and curated series sets available in hardcover, eBook, and subscription package formats. The portfolio spans over 20 subject categories including Current Issues, Science and Technology, Health, Careers, History and Culture, Mythology, Nature, Sports, and SEL. Series typically contain 4-7 titles with consistent specifications of 64-80 pages, full-color photos, sidebars, glossaries, and source notes. Distribution channels include direct library/school sales, e-commerce through Network Solutions Online Store, and dedicated digital platforms at referencepointdigital.com.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BrightPoint Press: Hi-Lo YA nonfiction imprint focusing on lower reading level content for grades 3-4, covering careers, science, health, nature, and other topics for young adult readers.
Products and services
- Hardcover Books Print hardcover editions of educational nonfiction books for young adults in grades 6-12, featuring 64-80 pages with full-color photos, sidebars, glossaries, source notes, and reinforced library binding. Priced around $40-47 per title at retail, with S&L (School & Library) pricing approximately $33-43.
- eBooks Digital editions of educational nonfiction titles available for individual purchase or via subscription packages, with multi-user 24/7 access across devices for institutional buyers.
- eBook Subscription Packages Curated digital collection bundles priced at $5.00 per title for building digital library collections, providing multi-user 24/7 access for schools and libraries.
- Complete Series Sets Pre-packaged hardcover book sets covering specific topics or series themes, typically 4-7 titles per series, with examples such as the 5-title All About Sharks set ($219.65) and the 6-title America's Ethnic Diversity set ($271.56).
- Single Titles Individual book titles available in hardcover or eBook format across more than 19 subject categories including Current Issues, Science and Technology, Health, Careers, History and Culture, Mythology, Nature, Sports, and SEL.
Quantifiable outcome
- Positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews and recognition from American Society of Journalists and Authors
Companies that use ReferencePoint Press
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ReferencePoint Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ReferencePoint Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ReferencePoint Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Scholastic: Scholastic is a large incumbent educational publisher with broad K-12 nonfiction and series offerings, school book clubs, and institutional sales channels that overlap with ReferencePoint Press's core school-and-library market, though at significantly larger scale and breadth.
Direct peers
- Gareth Stevens Publishing: Gareth Stevens Publishing produces leveled and educational nonfiction for school and library markets across grade bands, closely aligned with ReferencePoint Press's tiered content strategy across grades 3-12.
- Enslow Publishing: Enslow Publishing produces educational nonfiction for students in grades 4-12 on topics including science, biography, and current issues, serving the same school/library customer segment as ReferencePoint Press.
- Lucent Books: Lucent Books publishes reference and informational nonfiction series for young adults on topics such as health, social issues, and history—a comparable series-based nonfiction model for school and library markets.
- Capstone Press: Capstone Press publishes leveled and educational nonfiction for K-12 readers, including series and imprints serving reluctant and below-grade-level readers, comparable to ReferencePoint Press's Hi-Lo series strategy.
- Mason Crest Publishers: Mason Crest Publishers produces nonfiction educational series for middle and high school audiences on careers, social issues, and current events, making it a direct comparable in school-and-library nonfiction publishing.
- Greenhaven Press: Greenhaven Press is known for its 'In Controversy' and 'Issues in Society' debate-style series, which directly parallels ReferencePoint Press's 'In Controversy' and 'Issues Today' series on current social and political topics for young adults.
- Rosen Publishing Group: Rosen Publishing produces educational nonfiction series for young adults and school libraries, including reference and current issues series—directly comparable to ReferencePoint Press's series-based nonfiction catalog and school/library distribution model.
- Orca Book Publishers: Orca Book Publishers operates the Orca Hi-Lo imprint, producing high-interest, low-reading-level fiction and nonfiction for teen and middle-grade readers, making it a direct comparable in the Hi-Lo educational publishing space.
- Saddleback Educational Publishing: Saddleback Educational Publishing specializes in Hi-Lo (high-interest, low-reading-level) books for struggling and reluctant readers, including YA nonfiction and series aimed at grades 6-12—the same target audience and editorial model as ReferencePoint Press.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ReferencePoint Press social profiles
Digital presenceReferencePoint Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ReferencePoint Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ReferencePoint Press subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ReferencePoint Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ReferencePoint Press 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 ReferencePoint Press
What does ReferencePoint Press do?
ReferencePoint Press publishes educational nonfiction books for young adults in grades 6-12, sold as hardcover print editions and eBooks through two imprints: the primary ReferencePoint Press imprint for standard-level nonfiction and BrightPoint Press for Hi-Lo (high-interest, lower reading level) content aimed at reluctant readers. The catalog includes individual single titles, curated series sets of 4-7 titles, and eBook subscription packages priced at $5.00 per title for schools, libraries, and individual buyers.
Is ReferencePoint Press a public or private company?
ReferencePoint Press is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ReferencePoint Press founded?
ReferencePoint Press was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ReferencePoint Press based?
ReferencePoint Press is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does ReferencePoint Press make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardcover Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are eBook Sales and Subscriptions.
Who are ReferencePoint Press's main competitors?
Scholastic is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Gareth Stevens Publishing, Enslow Publishing, Lucent Books, Capstone Press, Mason Crest Publishers, Greenhaven Press, Rosen Publishing Group, Orca Book Publishers and Saddleback Educational Publishing.
Does ReferencePoint Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for ReferencePoint Press.
What industry is ReferencePoint Press in?
ReferencePoint Press's product category is Educational Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAE, Children’s Nonfiction Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGAIAC, Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.