Hope Partnership for Education

What Hope Partnership for Education does

Hope Partnership for Education is a 501(c)-equivalent Pennsylvania nonprofit founded in 2002 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and Sisters of Mercy, operating an independent middle school (Hope Partnership School) serving grades 5-8 in the Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood of North Philadelphia. The core instructional model is rooted in the Nativity Mission Center approach (originating in New York City in 1971), featuring small class sizes capped at 15 students per grade, extended learning time, values-based education grounded in Respect, Academic Excellence, Compassion, Hospitality, Joy, and Hope, and a Graduate Support Program that maintains ongoing relationships with 170+ active alumni (204 total graduates since 2008, with documented 90%+ high-school graduation outcomes and 100% acceptance rates to special admission high schools). Beyond the school, Hope operates an Adult Education Program serving roughly 200 learners ages 18-65 since 2005, four cycles of after-school enrichment (20+ weeks annually), weekly expressive arts, and functions as a multi-service community resource hub through partnerships with Philabundance (food pantry), Police Athletic League, Salus University, Temple University, Village of Arts & Humanities, Catapult Learning, and others.

The technology stack is built entirely on third-party educational platforms: IXL for weekly adaptive diagnostics and intervention, EL Education K-8 Language Arts curriculum, Illustrative Mathematics, Amplify Science for science instruction, Wilson Reading Intervention for students below the 30th percentile, and Scholastic Scope. Operational infrastructure includes Sycamore Schools for student information management, Edlio for website and CMS, Heartland Payment Services for tuition and donation processing, Constant Contact for email marketing, and a Google/Yahoo/Microsoft SSO-enabled contact form. Each student is issued a Chromebook for both in-school and at-home use. No proprietary software, AI/ML models, or technical IP is developed in-house.

The business model is philanthropic nonprofit hybrid: 'published' tuition is $17,500 per student per year but every enrolled family receives substantial scholarship support with contributions scaled to income via financial review, meaning actual realized tuition is a fraction of list. Revenue is diversified across student tuition net of scholarship aid, foundation and corporate grants (most notably a 2024 $110,000 William Penn Foundation grant), recurring monthly giving through the Rays of Hope membership program (processed on the 16th of each month), the annual Friendraiser gala event (now in its 19th year), EITC/OSTC employer contributions, and employer matching gift programs. Customer base is geographically narrow (a single North Philadelphia neighborhood) but vertically diversified across four segments: current middle school students and families, alumni (high school through post-secondary), adult learners, and the broader Fairhill-Hartranft community served through family pantry and resource center offerings. Go-to-market is direct enrollment with personalized financial counseling, supported by community referral networks and social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Name

Hope Partnership for Education

Legal name

Hope Partnership for Education

Website

https://hope-partnership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hope Partnership for Education is a Philadelphia nonprofit operating Hope Partnership School, an independent middle school for grades 5-8 in the Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood, plus an Adult Education Program and a Graduate Support Program serving 200+ alumni through post-secondary education. All students receive scholarship support against a $17,500 tuition list price.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult High School Diploma Completion Programs (EDAAABAB), Post-Secondary Transition Planning & Coordination (EDAKANAA)

Keywords

• Independent middle school
• Secondary education services
• After-school enrichment
• Adult education programs
• Graduate support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student Tuition: Annual tuition of $17,500 per student, significantly subsidized by philanthropic support. Family contributions determined through financial review process based on income. Revenue is recurring on annual basis.
2. Individual Donations and Monthly Giving: Rays of Hope monthly giving program where donors make recurring monthly contributions. One-time donations also accepted via website or check. Monthly gifts processed on the 16th of each month.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Grant funding from foundations such as the $110,000 William Penn Foundation grant. Also receives support through EITC/OSTC program from employers.
4. Annual Friendraiser Events: 19th Annual Friendraiser 'The Excellence of Hope' - largest community and fundraising event featuring live music, dinner, and silent auction. Other annual Friendraiser events.
5. Employer Matching Programs: Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double or triple donor impact. Also United Way Donor Choice program (Code #29732).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hope Partnership for Education operates Hope Partnership School, an independent middle school serving grades 5-8 with class sizes capped at 15 students, extended learning time, expressive arts, and after-school enrichment. The organization also runs a Graduate Support Program providing ongoing mentorship through high school and post-secondary placement, an Adult Education Program serving learners ages 18-65, and acts as a community resource hub with food pantry, vision care, and family services for the Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood in North Philadelphia.

Product overview

Hope Partnership for Education is a North Philadelphia independent education center offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The cornerstone is Hope Partnership School, a private middle school serving grades 5-8 with intentionally small class sizes (capped at 15 students), extended learning time, and weekly expressive arts classes. The Graduate Support Program provides ongoing mentorship and post-secondary guidance for alumni through high school and beyond. After-School Enrichment offers four cycles of clubs and activities. The Adult Education Program serves approximately 200 adult learners annually. Community Partnerships position Hope as a resource hub for the Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhoods. The Rays of Hope monthly giving program provides sustainable scholarship funding. Tuition is $17,500 per student with all students receiving scholarship support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hope Partnership School
• Graduate Support Program
• Adult Education Program
• After-School Enrichment

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of HPS alumni graduate high school on time
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Catapult LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Catapult Learning provides behavioral services to Hope Partnership School students during the academic year. Hope's counselor has served the student body for over 15 years and offers parents, teachers, and administrators resources to reduce learning barriers. Students demonstrate greater responsibility for behavior, attendance, and academic achievement with counseling services. Catapult Learning also runs summer camps at Hope in July and August.
• Learn, Empower, Grow Consulting GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024One of Hope's newest partners supporting adult education, workforce development efforts, and alumni career coaching. Building on the legacy of Hope's Adult Education program. Part of $110,000 William Penn Foundation grant collaboration.
• Latinos Educando JuntoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic collaboration through $110,000 William Penn Foundation grant to expand culturally relevant early childhood education opportunities for Hispanic educators. Partnership harnesses collective expertise and resources.
• Society of the Holy Child JesuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Founded Hope Partnership for Education together with Sisters of Mercy with input from community residents. Organization's roots and founding partner providing mission guidance and educational model.
• Sisters of MercycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Founded Hope Partnership for Education together with Society of the Holy Child Jesus with input from community residents. Founding partner providing founding ideals and mission alignment.
• Police Athletic League (PAL) Fairhill CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Partnership School proudly shares its gym with PAL's Fairhill Center. PAL supports students with after-school programming and mentorship.
• The Village of Arts & HumanitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Hope's longest standing partners offering numerous free after-school, work-ready opportunities, and summer activities for students and alumni. Through employment programs, students hone leadership abilities. Also partner for community service activities.
• Temple University College of Education & Human DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope's neighbor has partnered in numerous ways. Most consistently, Hope's Graduate Support Program provides internship opportunities for current Temple University students enrolled in the College of Education & Human Development.
• PhilabundancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the local food pantry program, Philabundance installed Hope as one of its newest pantry locations. The pantry provides nutritious options for Fairhill and Hartranft neighbors in addition to Hope families.
• Salus University Optical CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssists Hope Partnership School's Nurse by providing free vision testing and giving two free sets of glasses to students annually.
• North City CongressmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 5 weeks of summer camp at Hope Partnership for Education engaging the community and students.
• Shalom, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilds student resiliency through comprehensive lessons during the school day addressing conflict resolution tools, interpersonal social skills, and self-esteem.
• UC and Life Do Grow FarmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeliver hundreds of pounds of fresh food to students, families, and neighbors through weekly markets. UC and Hope secured a grant together to provide cooking classes by local chefs for students and offer programming at the farm to teach students how to create raised bed gardens and tend to various crops.
• World Affairs CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Partnership School is a member school in the Council's educational programming. Each year, HPS 7th graders participate in Model U.N. engaging with international students and taking a field trip to the United Nations HQ in New York City.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gesu School: A Jesuit independent K-8 school in North Philadelphia serving low-income families with extended-day programming, wraparound services, and scholarship-funded tuition. Operates in the same neighborhood and serves a directly comparable population to Hope Partnership School.
• NativityMiguel Network of Schools: The national network of Catholic-inspired independent middle schools serving low-income communities using the same Nativity Mission Center model that Hope Partnership School was founded upon. Highly comparable mission, instructional approach, and student demographic.
• Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School: An independent middle and high school in West Philadelphia serving young men from under-resourced communities with extended-day programming, college prep, and alumni support — directly comparable to Hope Partnership's model and North Philadelphia charter-school competitive set.
• St. James School: An Episcopal independent middle school in North Philadelphia serving grades 4-8 with extended-day programming, summer programs, and full-scholarship tuition. Comparable in faith-inspired origin, demographic served, and community-based service model.
• Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School: A Catholic-inspired college preparatory high school in Philadelphia serving low-income families through the Corporate Work Study program. Comparable mission, demographic, and faith-rooted origin, though at the high-school level.

Others

• City Year Philadelphia: A youth-service nonprofit placing AmeriCorps members in Philadelphia schools to support student attendance, behavior, and academic performance. Hope's CEO Virgil Sheppard previously served as Senior National School Partnerships Director at City Year, making it a strategic ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Mastery Charter Schools: A large Philadelphia charter management organization operating multiple K-12 schools with extended-day programming serving predominantly low-income students across the city. Direct competitor for North Philadelphia middle-school families at significantly larger scale.
• KIPP Philadelphia Schools: Part of the national KIPP charter network, KIPP Philadelphia operates multiple tuition-free public charter schools serving North Philadelphia families with extended-day programming and college-prep focus. Comparable demographic and academic mission but as a public charter network at much larger scale.
• Independence Mission Schools: A network of 14 Catholic primary schools in the Philadelphia region serving under-resourced families with extended-day programming and scholarship support. Operates as a broader portfolio at scale where Hope operates a single school.

Regional players

• Belmont Charter Network: A small Philadelphia charter school network serving West Philadelphia families with extended-day programming and a community-school model. Comparable in scale and mission but operating in a different Philadelphia neighborhood.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hope4eduphilly
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61587504877820
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hope-partnership-for-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopepartnershipphl

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 Hope Partnership for Education