What Kesler Science does

Kesler Science is an educational publisher that produces ready-to-use middle school science curriculum (grades 4-8) covering 100+ life, physical, and Earth science topics aligned to NGSS and TEKS standards, delivered via recurring subscriptions, school and district licenses, individual lesson purchases, and live professional development sessions. Founded in 2015 by former middle school science teacher Chris Kesler and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company is a 100% teacher-run LLC with no disclosed institutional funding. Tens of thousands of individual teachers and over 4,000 schools purchase the curriculum, with monthly subscriber attrition reported below 5%.

The product is built on a multi-vendor stack: HubSpot hosts the main marketing and subscription site, Thinkific powers the lessons portal, and PocketLab Notebook hosts Core and Pro membership tiers including interactive digital lessons, a teacher progress dashboard, AI-enabled tools, and sensor integration. Instructional content is delivered as editable PowerPoint, PDF, DOCX, and Google Drive-compatible files built around the research-based 5E instructional model, with three levels of differentiated inquiry labs, leveled reading passages, and integrated LMS distribution via Google Classroom, ClassLink, MS Teams, Canvas, and Schoology. Strategic partnerships include PocketLab (distribution and digital platform) and Steve Spangler, an Emmy-winning educator who supplies exclusive content and six live PD sessions per year. The portfolio extends beyond core instructional products to include supplementary items such as escape rooms, board games, bellringers, STEM challenges, reading comprehension passages, and Steve Spangler phenomenon lessons.

Revenue is generated primarily through subscription tiers (Kesler Science Basic at $348/yr, Plus at $398/yr, legacy Core at $349/yr, and Pro at $579/yr), school and district PO/invoice licenses with volume and multi-year discounts, and one-time purchases in the Kesler Science Store. Go-to-market combines product-led growth (free two-week demo units on PocketLab Notebook, free blog worksheets, weekly Phenomenon and Graph newsletter) with a teacher-led sales team for enterprise procurement. Distribution also includes the Teachers Pay Teachers marketplace and Steve Spangler co-marketing, with social channels spanning Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X/Twitter, and Pinterest, plus a Kesler Science PLN Facebook community serving as a peer-support and referral layer.

Name

Kesler Science

Legal name

Kesler Science, LLC

Website

https://keslerscience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kesler Science is a Houston-based educational publisher offering NGSS- and TEKS-aligned middle school science curriculum (grades 4-8) to tens of thousands of teachers and over 4,000 schools via subscriptions, a PocketLab Notebook digital platform, and a teacher-led school sales motion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Science Curriculum and Educational Content

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Teaching Resources & Lesson Plan Libraries (EDAGAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA), K–12 Textbook Publishing (Core Curriculum) (MPAJABAA), Formative & Benchmark Assessment Content (K–12) (EDAGADAH)

Keywords

• Middle school science curriculum
• Educational subscription platform
• NGSS and TEKS resources
• Interactive science lessons
• Teacher lesson planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Teacher Subscriptions (Basic & Plus): Monthly or annual subscription paid by individual teachers (4th-8th grade science educators). Kesler Science Basic at ~$29/month annually, Plus at ~$33.17/month annually. Subscriptions auto-renew and include access to all downloadable resources plus exclusive tools (Lesson Launchpad, subscriber-only monthly resources).
2. Individual Teacher Subscriptions (Legacy Core & Pro): Monthly or annual subscription on the PocketLab Notebook platform. Core membership at $33.99/month or $349/year; Pro membership at $49.99/month or $579/year. Core includes all downloadable files; Pro adds fully interactive digital lessons and student progress monitoring.
3. School/District Licenses: Multi-teacher license purchases via purchase order or invoice for schools and districts. Each teacher requires their own license. Volume and multi-year discounts available. Over 4,000 schools purchase through PO/invoice.
4. Individual Lesson Store Purchases: Single lessons or bundles of lessons available for one-time purchase in the Kesler Science Store, allowing teachers who do not want a full subscription to buy specific resources individually.
5. Professional Development Sessions: Six live professional development sessions per year with Steve Spangler, available to all subscribers. Standalone PD sessions also offered at keslerscience.com/stars_pd.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kesler Science is an educational publisher that creates and sells subscription-based middle school science curriculum (grades 4-8) covering physical, life, and Earth & space science topics aligned to NGSS and TEKS standards. The company offers thousands of editable PowerPoint, PDF, DOCX, and Google Drive-compatible lesson resources through tiered subscription plans (Basic, Plus, Core, Pro), with the Plus and Pro tiers featuring the Lesson Launchpad planning tool and fully interactive digital lessons with student progress monitoring.

Product overview

Kesler Science is an educational publisher offering middle school science curriculum (grades 4-8) across three subscription tiers: Kesler Science Plus (with Lesson Launchpad planning tool and monthly exclusive resources), Core (downloadable PPT/PDF materials), and Pro (digital interactive lessons on PocketLab Notebook with student rostering and progress monitoring). The portfolio includes core instructional products (5E Lessons, Station Labs, Inquiry Labs, Interactive Notebooks) and supplementary materials (Escape Rooms, Board Games, Bellringers, STEM Challenges, Reading/Writing resources). All materials align to NGSS and TEKS standards with built-in differentiation. Individual products are also available for purchase through the Kesler Science Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kesler Science Plus: Premium subscription with Lesson Launchpad planning tool, subscriber-only monthly resources, and favorites feature. Includes full resource library access.
• Kesler Science Basic
• Kesler Science Core
• Kesler Science Pro

Products and services

• Kesler Science Plus Premium subscription tier for teachers offering full access to the Kesler Science resource library, the Lesson Launchpad planning tool, subscriber-only monthly resources, favorites feature, and live PD webinars with Steve Spangler. Pricing is $33.98/month or $348/year (Basic) and $37.49/month or $398/year (Plus).
• Kesler Science Core Subscription tier providing the full downloadable Kesler Science classroom resource collection including PowerPoint and PDF files for digital or print use. Editable, differentiated lessons can be distributed through LMS. Pricing is $33.99/month or $349/year.
• Kesler Science Pro Upgraded membership on PocketLab Notebook including all downloadable Core materials plus fully digital interactive lessons assignable directly to students. Features include teacher dashboard for real-time student progress monitoring, Google Classroom and ClassLink rostering, and integrated AI tools. Pricing is $49.99/month or $579/year.
• Kesler Science Store Individual product purchases for single lessons and resources outside of subscription. Thousands of paper and digital lessons available for individual purchase at store.keslerscience.com.
• Kesler Science Plus Schools School and district purchase option with budget-friendly pricing, first-class support, and simple implementation. Includes multi-year and volume discounts with PO and invoice acceptance. Over 4,000 schools have purchased through this channel.
• Professional Development Sessions with Steve Spangler Six live professional development sessions per year with Steve Spangler, available to all subscribers. Standalone PD sessions also offered at keslerscience.com/stars_pd.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools adopting Kesler Science have reported 7-9% annual increases in STAAR science scores, rising from 59% to 77% passing rate over three years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PocketLab (Myriad Sensors Inc.)coreTechnology or IntegrationKesler Science Core and Pro memberships are distributed as a premium channel on the PocketLab Notebook platform (thepocketlab.com). Kesler Science Pro is built around PocketLab Notebook, which supports sensor integration with built-in AI tools. The Notebook site is hosted by Myriad Sensors Inc. and subject to their terms and conditions.
• Steve SpanglercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteve Spangler, Emmy-winning educator, provides exclusive content for Kesler Science subscribers including Spangler Phenomenon lessons and Spangler STEM Starters. He also delivers six live professional development sessions per year for members. TIME Magazine named him one of the 'most influential people of the year' for his passion to inspire scientists and engineers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Studies Weekly: Studies Weekly publishes standards-aligned K-8 social studies and science periodicals adopted at the district level; it competes for the same school and district procurement dollars as Kesler Science.
• Generation Genius: Generation Genius provides K-8 science videos, lesson plans, and activities with both school and home subscriptions; it directly competes with Kesler Science on standards-aligned, video-rich science curriculum at similar price points.
• BrainPOP: BrainPOP offers animated, standards-aligned K-8 science and other subjects via subscription; it is the most direct competitor to Kesler Science in the teacher-facing, subject-curated middle school science subscription market.
• CK-12 Foundation: CK-12 offers free and paid K-12 STEM digital textbooks, simulations, and adaptive practice; it overlaps with Kesler Science's science content and standards-aligned delivery, especially in middle school.
• Mystery Science: Mystery Science (by Amplify) offers K-5 science lesson plans with hands-on activities and video, extending into middle school; it competes directly with Kesler Science for science curriculum adoption in grades 4-8.

Broad incumbents

• Discovery Education: Discovery Education is a large, multi-subject K-12 digital curriculum provider with district-grade salesforce and broad content portfolio; it competes with Kesler Science on science curriculum but offers much wider subject coverage.
• Nearpod: Nearpod provides K-12 interactive lessons, videos, and assessments across subjects with district licensing; it overlaps with Kesler Science Pro on student rostering, interactive lessons, and progress monitoring.

Emerging players

• Edpuzzle: Edpuzzle is a teacher-focused video-and-assessment platform widely used in K-12; it is a partial peer given the interactive lesson and progress monitoring overlap with Kesler Science Pro on PocketLab Notebook.
• Newsela: Newsela is primarily known for ELA reading content but has expanded into science/social studies; it competes with Kesler Science's reading comprehension and differentiated content for grades 4-8.

Others

• Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT): Teachers Pay Teachers is a marketplace where Kesler Science originated and still maintains a seller storefront; it is an indirect competitor and complementary channel for individual teacher purchases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/iamkesler
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/chrisjkesler
• Facebookfacebook.com/keslerscience
• Instagraminstagram.com/keslerscience
• Pinterestpinterest.com/keslerscience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kesler-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kesler Science