Summit Academy Incorporated

What Summit Academy Incorporated does

Summit Academy Incorporated is a nonprofit public K-12 charter school system operating under Utah State Board of Education authorization as a Local Education Agency (LEA). Founded in 2004 as the first charter school in Draper, the system has expanded in stages — adding middle grades in 2008, opening Summit Academy High School (SAHS) in 2010, the Independence K-8 campus in Bluffdale in 2014, and a second Bluffdale K-6 campus in 2016 — to reach four campuses serving more than 2,500 students across the Salt Lake Valley. It is one of only three K-12 charter schools in Utah, enabling continuous K-12 enrollment under a single charter. Academic offerings include the Utah State Core curriculum enriched with Direct Instruction pedagogy, Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory, dual immersion programs in Spanish (Bluffdale, Draper) and German (Independence), Concurrent Enrollment, AP Capstone, Honors, CTE Pathways, ACT Prep, and a STEM/robotics focus; extracurriculars include 17 athletics programs and 19+ clubs (eSports, HOSA, NHS, Debate, Robotics, arts). Average class sizes are 24:1 (K-8) and 16:1 (9-12), with graduating classes under 300.

The business model is publicly funded: Summit Academy receives per-pupil state appropriations, supplemented by nominal school fees (with state-mandated fee waivers), federal Title funding, the USDA National School Lunch Program, and the School LAND Trust. There is no tuition; families are recruited via a lottery-based enrollment system (December–February window) with sibling and employee preference, supported by campus tours, open houses, community events, local press (Draper Journal, South Valley Journal), and FOX13 coverage. Operations are supported by an in-house technology stack including Canvas LMS for instruction, SIS Aspire for student records and lottery administration, UTREx for state-mandated transcript exchange, SecureInstantPayments for fees and meal payments, and Google Calendar for campus scheduling. A six-bus shuttle fleet connects the campuses. Governance is exercised by a Board of Trustees with an Executive Director (Alana Johnson) and campus-level Principals.

Name

Summit Academy Incorporated

Legal name

Summit Academy

Website

https://summitacademyschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Summit Academy Incorporated is a nonprofit K-12 public charter school system in Utah operating four campuses (Draper, Bluffdale, Independence, SAHS) that deliver tuition-free education to more than 2,500 students in the Salt Lake Valley, funded by state per-pupil appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

Keywords

• Public K-12 charter education
• College preparatory programs
• Dual language immersion
• Competitive student athletics
• Extracurricular student activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Draper

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a publicly funded charter school, Summit Academy receives per-pupil state funding and does not charge tuition. The school may charge fees for specific services and materials, subject to Utah state fee waiver policies for qualifying families.
2. School Fees (Optional Services): Nominal fees are charged for specific school services, materials, and activities. Fee schedules are published annually for each campus (K-6 and 7-12). A fee waiver policy is in place for families who qualify.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Summit Academy Schools is a tuition-free K-12 public charter school system that delivers primary, elementary, middle, and high school education to more than 2,500 students across four campuses in Utah's Salt Lake Valley. Beyond core academics aligned to the Utah State Core standards, the school offers concurrent college enrollment, AP Capstone, Honors, CTE Pathways, Dual Immersion in Spanish and German, ACT Prep, STEM, plus 17 athletics programs and 19+ clubs. Administrative services include the SIS Aspire enrollment lottery, Canvas LMS access, the SecureInstantPayments fee system, and an inter-campus shuttle fleet.

Product overview

Summit Academy Schools is a K-12 public charter school system serving over 2,500 students across four campuses in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. Founded in 2004 as the first charter school in Draper, the system includes Bluffdale Campus (K-6), Draper Campus (K-8), Independence Campus (K-8), and SAHS - Summit Academy High School (9-12). The institution operates as a private school in a public charter shell, offering tuition-free education with a dress code and rigorous academics. Academic programs include Concurrent Enrollment, AP Capstone, Honors Program, Dual Immersion (Spanish and German), CTE Pathways, ACT Prep, and STEM. Extracurricular offerings encompass 17 athletics programs, 19+ clubs (including Robotics, eSports, HOSA, NHS), and comprehensive Visual & Performing Arts. Administrative services include a Student Information System (SIS Aspire), Canvas LMS, online payment systems for meals/fees, and inter-campus shuttle transportation. The school markets itself as a 'big fish, small pond' environment with graduating classes under 300 students, enabling broad participation opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Draper Campus (K-8) Campus serving grades K-8 located in Draper, UT with separate elementary and junior high facilities; Principal: Dr. Jeff Wyant. Offers Spanish Dual Immersion and the +Accelerate Program.
• Bluffdale Campus (K-6) Elementary campus serving grades K-6 located at 1940 West 14400 South, Bluffdale, UT 84065. Principal: Diana Brantley. Offers Spanish Dual Immersion program.
• Independence Campus (K-8) Campus serving grades K-8 located at 15327 South Noell Nelson Drive, Bluffdale, UT 84065. Principal: Lisa Cutler. Offers German Dual Immersion program.
• SAHS - Summit Academy High School (9-12) High school serving grades 9-12 located at 14942 South 560 West, Bluffdale, UT 84065. Principal: Angela Grimmer. Offers Concurrent Enrollment programs, AP Capstone, STEM focus, robotics, eSports, and 17 athletics programs.
• Concurrent Enrollment Program College credit program at SAHS allowing high school students to take university-level courses while still in high school, earning both high school and college credits simultaneously.
• AP Capstone Program Advanced Placement program that develops students' critical thinking, research, and presentation skills through college-level coursework and a capstone research project.
• Honors Program Academic distinction program for high-achieving students seeking a more rigorous curriculum and enhanced college preparation.
• Dual Immersion Programs Language immersion programs offering Spanish Dual Immersion at Bluffdale and Draper campuses and German Dual Immersion at Independence campus, where students learn academic content in two languages.
• CTE Pathways & Courses Career and Technical Education programs providing students with technical skills and pathways to career readiness through industry-specific coursework and certifications.
• STEM Program Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program integrating interdisciplinary instruction across these subject areas to prepare students for STEM careers.
• University Tracker Program Unique SAHS program where students begin tracking their path to graduation and college acceptance in their first weeks of high school, plotting a roadmap including admission standards, GPA requirements, and application deadlines.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletics program featuring 17 sports programs for middle school and high school students, including competitive sports at the middle school level which is unique among nearby district schools.
• School Meal Payment System Online payment system for school meals allowing parents to prepay for breakfast and lunch across all four campuses via the SecureInstantPayments platform.
• Student Information System (SIS Aspire) Student information system (SIS Aspire) used for enrollment lottery applications, student records, grades, and parent/guardian access to student information.
• Shuttle Transportation Inter-campus shuttle service transporting students between the four campuses (Draper, Bluffdale, Independence, SAHS) in the mornings and afternoons Monday-Thursday via a fleet of 6 buses, with a stop at Draper Trax (Pioneer Road).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $15 million in cumulative scholarships awarded to graduates; $2 million awarded in 2023 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Utah State Board of Education / UTRExcoreTechnology or IntegrationSummit Academy shares student data with the Utah State Board of Education via the Utah Transcript and Records Exchange (UTREx) system, as required by Utah state law for all public schools. This data exchange is governed by FERPA and the school's Student Data Collection and Privacy Policy.
• USDA National School Lunch ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Academy participates in the USDA National School Lunch Program, providing meals to students. As of July 1, 2025, students qualifying for reduced meal benefits receive lunches for free per Utah House Bill 100. The school's Director of Child Nutrition manages this program.
• Wellness Committee PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school's Wellness Committee includes public patrons and school staff working to promote health and nutrition. The committee meets annually and publishes wellness evaluations and policies.
• Utah Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (U-RAPT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Academy has partnered with the Utah Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (U-RAPT), which offers a pathway combining on-the-job learning with mentorship and paid college tuition for aspiring educators. Apprentices earn a professional educator license upon completion.
• Draper TraxminorOthersSummit Academy operates shuttle bus routes connecting its campuses, including a stop at Draper Trax (Pioneer Road) for transportation between campuses. Six buses form the school's shuttle fleet.
• SafeUTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Academy is integrated with the SafeUT crisis hotline, a University of Utah program that allows students and families to report safety concerns anonymously. Links to SafeUT are prominently displayed on the school's website.
• Salt Lake County LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Academy Draper's art students have partnered with Salt Lake County Draper Library to display student artwork in the library. The school also participated in the Draper Library's Tiny Art Show alongside community participants.
• Utah State Board of Education Internal Audit / Public Education HotlineminorOthersSummit Academy directs concerns about potential violations of statute or USBE rules to the Utah State Board of Education Public Education Hotline. Reports may be submitted anonymously and are reviewed by USBE Internal Audit.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Paradigm Schools: Utah K-12 charter school offering a classical, college-prep curriculum with small classes. Comparable to Summit Academy in charter status, K-12 continuity, and academic focus.
• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of college-prep charter schools with AP-heavy curricula and STEM focus. Comparable to Summit Academy in advanced academics, AP Capstone, and university-track positioning, though operating at greater national scale.
• American Preparatory Schools: Multi-campus Utah charter school network serving K-12 students with a college-prep focus, dual immersion, and small-class philosophy. Directly comparable to Summit Academy in geography, charter status, and program mix.
• Syracuse Arts Academy: K-12 public charter school in northern Utah County offering accelerated academics, arts, and athletics with a lottery-based enrollment system. Comparable to Summit Academy in charter structure, college-prep orientation, and extracurricular breadth.
• Providence Hall: Utah K-12 charter school system with multiple campuses, college-prep academics, and concurrent enrollment programs. Comparable in operating model, scale, and target families.
• Reagan Academy: K-12 charter school in Utah emphasizing college preparation, concurrent enrollment, and small class sizes. Comparable to Summit Academy in charter authorization, curriculum, and student-body positioning.
• KIPP Public Schools: National K-12 charter management organization focused on college-prep outcomes for underserved students. Comparable to Summit Academy in multi-campus charter structure, college-readiness mission, and lottery-based public enrollment.

Others

• Alpine School District: Largest public school district in Utah, serving many of the same growth-corridor communities as Summit Academy. Comparable as a competing K-12 provider drawing from overlapping student populations.
• Canyons School District: Adjacent public school district serving the same Salt Lake Valley communities. Competes with Summit Academy for students and per-pupil funding, and serves as the principal non-charter alternative for local families.
• Utah State Board of Education: State-level charter authorizer and policy body that governs Summit Academy's charter agreement, per-pupil funding, and compliance. Included as the most consequential regulatory counterpart rather than a competitive operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sahsbears
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSpK_L1Wm9YU30cGZPK5_og/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/sahsbears
• LinkedInfacebook.com/summitacademyutah
• Instagraminstagram.com/sahsbears

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Summit Academy Incorporated