iForward

What iForward does

iForward is a state-approved online public charter school operating as part of the Grantsburg School District in Wisconsin. Founded in 2005, it delivers tuition-free K-12 education to students across the state through live virtual classes, serving families seeking an alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schooling. The school operates under a statewide direct enrollment model, making it accessible to any Wisconsin family regardless of geographic location within the district's charter authorization.

The school's technology platform is built on Class.com as its learning management system (LMS) for course delivery and Genius as its student information system (SIS) for administrative and student data management. Beyond core academics, iForward offers a Youth Apprenticeship Program encompassing 52 career pathways, a dual credit partnership with Northwood Technical College for college-credit coursework, and an Academic and Career Planning (ACP) program delivered through a partnership with Xello. The school is led by Principal Constance Quade, appointed in 2019, and Assistant Principal Lisa Danielson, who joined in 2021, with a total staff of approximately 70+ educators and administrators.

Revenue is derived exclusively from Wisconsin state per-pupil aid, which flows through the Grantsburg School District to fund operations. As a public charter school, iForward charges no tuition; its financial model depends entirely on enrollment-driven state appropriations. This single-payer funding structure, combined with a diversified family-level customer base, defines the school's revenue mechanics and financial risk profile.

Name

iForward

Legal name

iForward Wisconsin Virtual Charter School of the Grantsburg School District

Website

https://iforwardwisconsin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

iForward is Wisconsin's state-approved online public charter school offering tuition-free K-12 education through live virtual classes to families statewide since 2005, operating as part of the Grantsburg School District.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Online Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Time Virtual K–12 Schools (Statewide/Cyber Charters & District Programs) (EDAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

Keywords

• Online K-12 education
• Virtual charter school
• Public online school
• Distance learning programs
• Charter school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Grantsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: As a state-approved public charter school within the Grantsburg School District, iForward receives per-pupil state aid and public education funding. The school is tuition-free for Wisconsin students, operating as a public good rather than a fee-for-service model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

iForward is a tuition-free, state-approved online public charter school providing K-12 education to Wisconsin students through live daily virtual classes, personalized learning plans, and comprehensive support services. The school delivers Elementary (K-5), Middle (6-8), and High School (9-12) academic programs via its virtual classroom platform, supplemented by Academic & Career Planning, dual credit college courses, and 52 Youth Apprentice Programs.

Product overview

iForward is Wisconsin's state-approved online charter school offering a comprehensive K-12 education program. The school operates three core academic programs: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School, each providing live online daily classes and customized learning experiences. The platform combines progressive online learning with personalized support through features like dedicated advisors, school counselors, and technical assistance. Additional offerings include the Academic & Career Planning (ACP) Program, college credit opportunities through dual enrollment partnerships, and a wide range of student clubs and extracurricular activities. The school has been pioneering online education since 2005 and serves students tuition-free as a public school program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iForward Elementary School Program Interactive online elementary program for young learners (K-5) combining core academics with creative activities, promoting curiosity and a love of learning with experienced teachers providing personal attention.
• iForward Middle School Program Balanced online learning program for middle school students (grades 6-8) exploring challenging academics while developing essential study skills and independence in a supportive environment.
• iForward High School Program Complete high school program (grades 9-12) with college-prep coursework combined with flexibility to pursue interests and goals, setting students up for success in college and beyond.
• Academic & Career Planning (ACP) Program Comprehensive career planning program helping students achieve educational and employment goals through career conferences, the Xello platform, and Youth Apprenticeship opportunities.
• Student Clubs and Extracurricular Activities Virtual clubs, student leadership programs, and special events including gaming club, virtual field trips, student government, academic honor societies, proms, and homecoming activities.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Northwood Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership allowing iForward students to earn college credits while completing high school. Featured student Ginger Randall was highlighted on Northwood Technical College's Facebook page for balancing iForward studies with Healthcare Receptionist technical diploma coursework, demonstrating the school's commitment to early college and career pathway connections.
• Youth Apprenticeship Program (Wisconsin State Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide Wisconsin youth apprenticeship initiative that iForward integrates into its ACP (Academic and Career Planning) program. Provides students with career exploration opportunities and technical skill development across various industries.
• Grantsburg School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartneriForward operates as the virtual charter school component of the Grantsburg School District. The district provides administrative infrastructure, oversight, and public school funding authorization. Joshua Watt serves as Superintendent overseeing the district including iForward.
• Xello (Academic and Career Planning Platform)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCareer planning software platform used by iForward students for Career Matchmaking, Ability Profiler, Learning Styles Inventory, and Financial Aid Selector tools as part of the school's ACP program.
• Class.comsupportingTechnology or IntegrationLearning management system and class login platform used for delivering iForward's online courses. Students access coursework through class.com integration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Connections Academy: Operates tuition-free online K–12 public schools in partnership with districts and charter authorizers across many U.S. states. Directly comparable to iForward as a statewide online charter competitor serving similar families with a tuition-free, publicly funded model.
• Florida Virtual School (FLVS): Statewide public online K–12 provider offering full-time and part-time virtual instruction funded by the state. Closely comparable to iForward in mission, funding mechanism, and breadth of grade-level coverage.
• Stride (formerly K12 Inc): One of the largest U.S. online K–12 operators, running tuition-free state virtual schools and powering brands like K12 and Wisconsin Virtual Academy. Directly comparable to iForward in product, customer, and funding model.
• Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA): Tuition-free statewide Wisconsin online charter school serving K–12 students. Directly competes with iForward for the same Wisconsin open-enrollment families using a virtually identical funding and delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Charter Schools USA: One of the largest U.S. charter school management companies operating K–8 and high schools in multiple states. Comparable as a scaled charter operator with shared authorizer-driven funding, though primarily in physical classrooms.
• National Heritage Academies: Large charter school management organization operating brick-and-mortar and blended public charter schools across multiple states. Comparable as a charter operator competing for the same K–12 families, though primarily in-person rather than fully online.

Others

• Edmentum: Provider of online curricula, virtual schooling solutions, and K–12 learning platforms used by districts and charter schools nationwide. Comparable to iForward as an enabling technology provider in the online K–12 ecosystem.
• Imagine Learning: Curriculum and online learning platform provider used by many U.S. school districts, including virtual and blended programs. Adjacent to iForward's tech stack — iForward uses similar LMS platforms like Class.com — making it a relevant ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/iforwardwi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 iForward