What Bend International School does

Bend International School (BIS) is a tuition-free public K-8 charter school located at 63034 OB Riley Rd, Bend, Oregon, authorized by the Bend-La Pine School District and founded in 2015 by Meera Rupp. Operating as Central Oregon's first and only K-8 international public charter, BIS enrolls approximately 222-234 students on a deliberately small one-class-per-grade design (~23 average class size, ~28 in middle school), served by 20+ faculty and staff and drawing students from Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, and Crook County school districts.

The school's core product is an integrated K-8 program built on three project-based curricula per year (combining arts, science, and humanities), Spanish-English bilingual development culminating in an 8th grade capstone exchange with sister school Octavio Paz School in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, plus a social-emotional learning framework, STEAM integration, and a middle school sequence in humanities (international literature including 'I Am Malala' and 'A Long Walk to Water'), hands-on science (NGSS-aligned labs, microscopy, 3D printing), and collaborative math (Open Up Resources). Supporting products include a global lunch program via the National School Lunch Program with international fusion cuisine, before-school care ($300/year primary, $200/year siblings), enrichment classes (Parkour $110, Circus Club $115, Skateboarding $115, Band $100, Dance $25) delivered by Camp Fire Afterschool and local partners (Lava City Cirque, Board House), and three annual field trips per class across Oregon (including OMSI's Hancock Field Station) plus international travel. Technology is limited to standard administrative and productivity tooling: Google Workspace, ParentVUE (district-hosted), and Google Docs for curriculum distribution.

BIS's business model is a public charter funding stack. Core revenue is per-pupil funding from the Bend-La Pine School District and Oregon Department of Education, supplemented by SIA grants from ODE for student mental health and equity, federal NSLP reimbursements, donations (Fall Giving Tree campaign, One World Gala with presenting sponsor The Kothari Foundation), and fee-based extended care and enrichment. Enrollment is allocated via an annual spring lottery with a maintained waitlist, and go-to-market is community-based: website, mailing list, school tours, and word-of-mouth via the BIS Amigos Ambassadors program and parent-to-parent referral. Governance rests with a six-member board (Bruce Abernethy as Chair since 2015; Danny Davis as Treasurer since 2017; Zila Philips since 2022; Sally Steinman since 2023; Sanny Kataoka since 2024; plus ex-officio Executive Director Melissa Barnes Dholakia, appointed 2024).

Name

Bend International School

Legal name

Bend International School

Website

https://bendinternationalschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bend International School is a free public K-8 charter school in Bend, Oregon serving approximately 234 students with project-based, bilingual Spanish-English instruction, experiential learning trips, and a sister-school exchange with Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Language Schools (61163), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Language Immersion & Bilingual Schools (EDAJACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB), Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB), Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• K-8 bilingual education
• Project-based learning
• Spanish immersion program
• Public elementary school

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Bend

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, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: Publicly funded charter school receiving per-pupil funding from state and local sources. Free enrollment for all students.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through Fall Giving Tree campaign and One World Gala annual fundraiser supporting student fieldwork and international learning experiences.
3. Before and After Care Programs: Before school care at $300/year per student, sibling discount at $200/year. After school programs offered through Camp Fire with various enrichment options.
4. National School Lunch Program: Participates in federal NSLP program offering meals at free and reduced prices for qualifying families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bend International School is a free, tuition-free public K-8 charter school providing project-based, bilingual Spanish-English education to approximately 234 students in Central Oregon. The school offers an integrated curriculum combining arts, sciences, humanities, Spanish language immersion, social-emotional learning, and a sister school exchange program with a partner school in Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Fee-based supplementary services include before and after school care, enrichment programs, and a federally-subsidized lunch program.

Product overview

Bend International School is a free, public K-8 charter school offering a unified educational program centered on project-based learning that integrates STEAM, humanities, and Spanish language development. The school's core product is its project-based curriculum supplemented by enrichment programs including before/after school care, a global lunch program, experiential learning trips, and a sister school exchange with Mexico. Additional offerings include athletics, arts (music, band, dance), and seasonal enrichment clubs. The school operates as a single integrated program rather than modular add-ons, with all components tied to the local-global educational philosophy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Charter School Education Tuition-free public K-8 charter school education serving approximately 234 students in Central Oregon. Includes project-based learning, Spanish language immersion, social-emotional learning, and a sister school exchange with Octavio Paz School in Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Admission is via annual lottery.
• Before School Care Program Before school care service offered from 7:30-8:40 AM on the BIS campus for K-8 students. Priced at $300 per year for the primary student and $200 per year for additional siblings, with scholarships available based on National School Lunch Program eligibility and payment plans offered.
• After School Enrichment Programs After school care and enrichment programs provided in partnership with Camp Fire Afterschool. Includes Parkour ($110, 6-week session), Circus Club ($115, 5-week session), Skateboarding ($115, 6-week session), Band ($100), and Dance ($25 supplies). Focuses on social-emotional skill development and exploration of student interests.
• Global Lunch Program International fusion cuisine lunch program aligned with the local-global educational philosophy. Participates in the federal National School Lunch Program offering meals at free and reduced prices for qualifying families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 234 students nurtured in small community setting
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Octavio Paz School (Tlaquepaque, Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Sister School partnership forming the cornerstone of BIS international exchange program. Students participate in service-learning projects, cultural exchanges, and annual visits. BIS students visit Tlaquepaque, and Octavio Paz students come to Bend, building lasting connections through shared learning.
• Camp Fire Afterschool (CFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA runs the aftercare program at BIS, providing flexible and fun options for families balancing after school care with enrichment opportunities and social-emotional skill development. Supports youth in exploring their sparks, practicing social skills, and building community.
• The Kothari FoundationmajorOthersPresenting sponsor of the annual One World Gala fundraiser benefiting student fieldwork and international learning experiences.
• Unitarian Universalist FellowshipminorOthersVenue host for annual One World Gala event.
• Bleu Bite CateringminorOthersCatering vendor for annual One World Gala event.
• Lava City CirqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Circus Club enrichment program for K-2 students. Students walk from BIS to studio at 63075 Crusher Ave #105, Bend, OR 97703 for aerial arts instruction.
• Board HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkateboarding enrichment program provider for grades 2-8, offering hands-on instruction on BIS Black Top.
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddle school students visit OMSI's Hancock Field Station for experiential education connecting classroom learning to real-world science experiences.
• Oregon Department of EducationcoreOthersBIS participates in Student Investment Account (SIA) grant program administered by ODE, supporting student mental health, academic achievement, and equity initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Realms Middle School: Project-based, student-centered middle school in Bend, Oregon, sharing BIS's experiential learning philosophy and competing for grade 6-8 families in the same region.
• Highland School at La Paz: Small, progressive K-8 school in Bend, Oregon, with project-based and community-centered programming; competes for the same Central Oregon families seeking alternative K-8 education.
• Lake Academy: Small alternative K-8 school in Bend, Oregon, focused on individualized, project-based learning; directly competes with BIS for families in the same Bend-area market.
• Cascades Academy: Independent PreK-12 school in Bend, Oregon, with project-based and globally minded programming; competes with BIS for families seeking small, alternative K-8 education in Central Oregon.
• Village School of Bend: Small, community-based alternative school in Bend, Oregon, offering project-based K-8 education; directly competes with BIS for families seeking non-traditional, small-school environments.
• Lighthouse Community Public Schools: K-12 charter district in Oakland, California, co-founded by BIS Executive Director Melissa Barnes Dholakia; directly comparable model (small, mission-driven, dual-language) and the operator's prior scaling playbook.
• Pacific Crest Community School: Public charter school serving grades K-8 in Bend, Oregon, offering project-based, small-school education directly competing with BIS for families in the same Central Oregon catchment.

Regional players

• Sisters Charter Academy: Public charter school in Sisters, Oregon, providing an alternative K-8 option for Central Oregon families; competes for some of the same district-boundary families as BIS.
• Oregon Charter Academy: Oregon statewide online charter school offering K-12 education; competes for Oregon families seeking non-traditional public school options, including those who might consider BIS.
• Forest Ridge Elementary: Bend-La Pine public elementary school offering K-5 education with Spanish dual-language programming; competes with BIS for Central Oregon families prioritizing bilingual K-5 education.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bend-international-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Bend International School