design high school

What design high school does

Design Tech High School (d.tech) is a free public charter school located at 275 Oracle Parkway in Redwood City, California, serving approximately 550 high school students across grades 9 through 12. It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 46-3705620) that integrates design thinking methodology, project-based learning, and fabrication technology within a college-preparatory curriculum developed in partnership with the Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and Equity beginning in 2019. The school's signature facility is an 8,000-square-foot, two-story Design Realization Garage (DRG) equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers, soldering stations, and design/film editing software, supported by three annual two-week Intersession exploration periods taught primarily by industry professionals.

The academic program is supplemented by a broad enrichment ecosystem: 16 athletic teams, 53+ student-led clubs, an award-winning FIRST Robotics Competition team (BREAD Team 5940, 60+ students, 2025 global ranking), a Model UN program that runs the student-hosted d.mun conference, theatrical arts (d.theatre), concurrent community college enrollment, and a structured counseling function. The school's go-to-market is a public lottery for 9th grade intake with sibling priority, supplemented by in-house re-enrollment and a community volunteer expectation of 30 hours per family per year. Outside the charter enrollment, d.tech distributes its Stanford-aligned Innovation Certificate, Internship Accelerator, and Innovation Diploma globally via innovationcertificate.org.

The revenue model is non-traditional for a for-profit audience. Core operating revenue is California per-pupil state funding on a recurring ADA basis, supplemented by voluntary community fundraising through the Koi Pond Annual Fund (FY 2025-2026 goal of $650,000), corporate employee matching contributions (exceeding $100,000 in the most recent reported year), an annual fundraising gala (raising $88,365 most recently), and an annual online auction. A suggested donation of $1,800 per student and a $75 Model UN participation fee are the only direct family asks; tuition is zero. The customer base is concentrated in Bay Area families, with no enterprise customer relationships and no pricing model beyond per-pupil public funding and voluntary donations.

Name

design high school

Legal name

Design Tech High School

Website

https://designtechhighschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Design Tech High School (d.tech) is a free, nonprofit California public charter school in Redwood City serving about 550 students in grades 9-12 through a Stanford-co-developed design thinking curriculum, an 8,000 sq ft fabrication lab, and an industry-mentored intersession and internship program, with globally distributed Innovation Certificate credentials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding Per Student: As a California public charter school, d.tech receives state funding on a per-student basis, which forms the core of its operating revenue.
2. Koi Pond Annual Fund (Donations): Annual tax-deductible cash donations collected during the fiscal year (July 1–June 30) to support teacher salaries, sports programs, student clubs, and the Design Realization Garage. The 2025-2026 campaign goal is $650,000 with current progress at $2,001.
3. Employee Matching Gift Program: Corporate employee matching contributions, which exceeded $100,000 in the most recent reported year.
4. Fundraising Gala: Annual spring fundraising gala and live auction generating proceeds for the Koi Pond Annual Fund. The most recent gala raised $88,365 total, including Fund-A-Need ($63,700), Live Auction ($15,800), and Online Auction/Raffle/Games ($8,865).
5. Annual Online Auction: Annual online auction event supporting the Koi Pond Fund, featuring donations from local businesses and the parent community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Design Tech High School (d.tech) is a free public charter high school in Redwood City, CA, delivering interdisciplinary, design-thinking-based secondary education to approximately 550 students in grades 9-12. The core offering combines project-based learning, mandatory Intersession exploration classes, real-world internships, an 8,000-square-foot Design Realization Garage makerspace, and a Stanford-developed Innovation Program, supported by athletics, clubs, and college counseling.

Product overview

Design Tech High School (d.tech) is a single, unified educational institution that functions as a free public California charter school, not a software product company. The school's core offering is its integrated high school education program centered on design thinking and real-world project-based learning. The academic program is supported by specialized modules including the Design Realization Garage (an 8,000 sq ft makerspace), the Innovation Certificate Program developed with Stanford, and three annual Intersession periods. Student enrichment is delivered through Robotics (BREAD Team 5940), Model UN, d.theatre, Athletics (16 sports), and student-run Clubs. The school also operates the Koi Pond Annual Fund for fundraising and partners with PowerSchool and Canvas for student information management. All these components work together to deliver the school's mission of developing creative, self-directed leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Tech High School (Charter Enrollment) A free public California charter school serving grades 9-12 with lottery-based 9th-grade intake, offering an interdisciplinary, design-thinking-based curriculum to approximately 550 students.
• Innovation Certificate Program A year-round online program developed with the Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and Equity that helps students build creativity, self-direction, and leadership skills, available to students worldwide regardless of d.tech enrollment.
• Internship Accelerator Component of d.tech's innovation program that provides students opportunities to work with industry partners and professional mentors to apply design thinking and success skills in real-world career settings.
• Innovation Diploma A credential program within d.tech's innovation program portfolio that awards students for completing innovation-focused coursework and real-world projects.
• Intersession Program Three two-week exploration periods during the school year featuring mandatory Exploration classes taught mainly by industry professionals, with internship opportunities for juniors and seniors.
• Design Realization Garage (DRG) An 8,000-square-foot, two-story fabrication lab and makerspace where students prototype design ideas, equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers, soldering stations, and design software.
• BREAD Team 5940 Robotics Program Award-winning FIRST Robotics Competition team (Team 5940 BREAD) in its tenth season, consisting of 60+ students across all grade levels with STEM education outreach programs.
• Model United Nations (d.mun) Educational program where students role-play as diplomats representing different countries in the United Nations, building public speaking, negotiation, leadership, and teamwork skills through research, debate, and resolution writing.
• Athletics Program Athletic program offering 16 sports throughout the school year, providing positive, challenging, competitive, and fair athletic experiences emphasizing personal integrity.
• Clubs & Activities Student-created, organized, and run clubs (53+) covering topics including feminist and cultural groups, art and photography, coding, music, gaming, robotics, leadership, and community service.
• Concurrent Enrollment Program Program allowing students to take community college classes concurrently with their high school studies, enabling them to earn college credit while in high school.
• d.tech Counseling Comprehensive counseling services supporting students' academic, social-emotional, and college/career readiness needs throughout their high school experience.
• d.theatre Theatrical arts program providing students opportunities to perform and participate in dramatic arts productions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded 'Silicon Valley's Ultimate Incubator' by Wired Magazine
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeginning in 2019, d.tech partnered with the Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and Equity to define what it means to be a creative, self-directed leader. This deep-dive collaboration led to the development of d.tech's Innovation Program, which serves as the foundation of the school's approach to building student skills and mindsets. The program is now available to students anywhere in the world.
• Oracle (Oracle Campus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerd.tech is located on the Oracle Campus at 275 Oracle Parkway, Redwood City, CA. The school operated 'Design Tech @ Oracle' as an initial implementation site for its Stanford-developed program. Oracle provides campus facilities including the 220 Garage for student parking. This co-location represents a strategic partnership for facility access and Silicon Valley ecosystem proximity.
• FIRST (FIRST Robotics Competition)minorStrategic or Co-development Partnerd.tech's BREAD Team 5940 participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition, an international STEM education program. The team is in its tenth season and achieved a 2025 global ranking. This partnership provides STEM education opportunities and outreach programs for team members and the broader community.
• Community Partners (Industry Professionals)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry professionals serve as instructors for Intersession Exploration courses and host student internships. Students apply design thinking mindsets and success skills during internships regardless of career industry. Community partners fill out an interest form to participate.
• Wired MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWired Magazine featured d.tech as 'Silicon Valley's Ultimate Incubator,' providing significant media coverage and credibility. This press coverage supports the school's marketing and recruitment efforts by establishing its reputation as an innovative educational institution.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Khan Lab School: Bay Area innovative school founded by Sal Khan emphasizing mastery-based, project-driven learning with design-thinking components. Comparable as a non-traditional Bay Area school serving a similar demographic.
• High Tech High: San Diego-based network of public charter schools with project-based learning and maker-focused curriculum. Most directly comparable as a public charter system with explicit design thinking and hands-on making focus.
• Acton Academy: Network of project-based, learner-driven schools with Socratic method and real-world apprenticeships. Comparable as a non-traditional school network with a strong self-directed learning model.
• KIPP Bay Area Public Schools: Bay Area charter school network serving similar student demographics. Comparable as a public charter operator in the same geography with lottery-based enrollment and similar mission-driven funding model.
• Envision Schools: Bay Area charter school network focused on deeper learning and college readiness. Comparable as a California charter network with project-based learning pedagogy and similar student demographic.
• Design39Campus: San Diego public school with design thinking and maker-space focus. Comparable as a public K-12 school with explicit design thinking curriculum and a dedicated maker facility.
• Summit Public Schools: Bay Area charter school network with personalized learning and project-based mentoring. Comparable as a California charter network operating in the same metro with lottery-based enrollment.
• Purdue Polytechnic High School: STEM-focused charter high school network in Indiana with project-based learning and industry partnerships. Comparable as a charter school with explicit STEM/maker focus and a university partnership structure.

Others

• Maker Ed: Nonprofit organization supporting maker education in K-12 schools. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that influences how d.tech's DRG and maker programming are recognized and supported.
• Stanford d.school: Stanford's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, the origin of d.tech's design thinking methodology. Comparable as the institutional source of d.tech's pedagogy and a direct content partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/d.techhighschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-tech-high-oracle

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about design high school