CoOpTech

What CoOpTech does

CoOpTech (School of Cooperative Technical Education) is a publicly funded Career and Technical Education (CTE) program operated by the New York City Department of Education's District 79. Founded in 1994, the institution delivers half-day vocational training to approximately 1,500 students annually aged 17-21, spanning NYC public high school students in grades 11-12, D79 alternative-education participants, D75 students with disabilities, and recent post-graduates. Students are recruited through the NYC DOE referral network, with rolling admissions available for current D79 students.

The program portfolio comprises nine core offerings: Automotive Services, Construction and Building Skills, Culinary Arts, Electrical, Health Services, Information Technology, and Unisex Styling, supplemented by OSHA certification training and a Work-Based Learning (WBL) program. Courses run one year across AM and PM sessions and produce industry-recognized credentials including ASE certifications (A4, A5, A6, A8), NYS barbering and natural hairstyling licensing exam preparation, CNA certification, NYS DOT welding certifications, and Cisco networking credentials. CTE credits earned apply toward the CDOS credential. Delivery occurs across one main Manhattan campus and five satellite locations in the Bronx, Queens (two sites), Staten Island, and Brooklyn.

The business model is government-funded with no tuition charged to students. Revenue derives entirely from the NYC DOE public education budget, and operations are sustained through an ecosystem of employer, union, and industry partnerships, including Cisco Networking Academy, NYC Construction Unions, CVS Health, NYC Department of Sanitation, and various healthcare facilities, which provide internships, clinical placements, and pre-apprenticeship pathways. The institution is not a private company; it has no shareholders, no funding rounds, and no acquisition history.

Name

CoOpTech

Legal name

School of Cooperative Technical Education

Website

https://co-optech.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CoOpTech is a publicly funded NYC Department of Education CTE program delivering half-day vocational training in nine trade areas to approximately 1,500 students aged 17-21 across all five NYC boroughs, with industry-recognized certifications and employer/union partnership pipelines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Vocational training programs
• Industry certification training
• Work-based learning
• Trade apprenticeship pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Coop Tech is a NYC Department of Education (DOE) program funded through public education budgets. Students receive education at no direct cost.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CoOpTech (School of Cooperative Technical Education) is a public NYC Department of Education CTE program delivering half-day vocational training in nine technical areas — Automotive Services, Construction and Building Skills, Culinary Arts, Electrical, Health Services, Information Technology, Unisex Styling, plus OSHA training and a Work-Based Learning program. Students aged 17-21 attend year-long (two-semester) morning or afternoon sessions and earn Certificates of Completion and eligibility to sit for industry-recognized certification exams at no cost.

Product overview

CoOpTech (School of Cooperative Technical Education) is a citywide CTE program operated by the NYC Department of Education. The institution offers a unified portfolio of nine distinct vocational training programs spanning automotive technology, construction trades (carpentry, welding, plumbing, drafting), culinary arts, electrical trades, health services (nursing, medical admin, vision care), information technology (networking, web design, media production, graphic design), and professional styling. Programs operate as independent certificate courses lasting one year (two semesters), with morning (8:30-11:00 AM) and afternoon (12:20-2:50 PM) sessions. Students receive Certificates of Completion plus access to industry certification exams. A Work-Based Learning program and OSHA training supplement the core curriculum by providing internship placements, job readiness skills, and safety certifications. The institution has multiple campuses across NYC and serves approximately 1,500 students annually aged 17-21.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automotive Services Two-year automotive technology program covering electrical/electronic systems, engine performance, steering and suspension, and brakes; prepares students for ASE certifications (A4, A5, A6, A8). Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• Construction and Building Skills Construction trades program covering introduction to trades, carpentry, architectural drafting and 3D printing, welding technology, and plumbing; offers NYS Department of Transportation 3G and 4G Field Welder certifications. Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• Culinary Arts Culinary arts program covering restaurant, catering, and commercial food service operations, culinary techniques, baking/pastry arts, and global cuisines. Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• Electrical Electrical trades program with four specializations — Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Solar — covering electrical theory, trade math, safety, and preparation for electrical apprenticeship. Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• Health Services Health services program with three tracks: Introduction to Medical Careers (medical billing, coding, EHR), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Vision Care Technology. Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• Information Technology Information technology program with four tracks: Audio/Video Production, Web Design, Computer Networking (Cisco), and Advertising and Design; prepares students for industry certifications including Cisco Networking Academy credentials. Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• Unisex Styling Styling program with two tracks: Barbering (prepares for NY State barber license) and Natural Hairstyling (covers hair care, braiding, weaving, and NYS licensing exam preparation). Target audience is NYC high school students ages 17-21.
• OSHA Training OSHA safety certification course providing 10-hour and 30-hour OSHA certifications plus NYC Department of Buildings SST training for construction and general industry safety. Target audience is Coop Tech students seeking safety credentials.
• Work-Based Learning (WBL) Work-Based Learning program providing job shadow, volunteering, paid internship, clinical experience, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities through industry and union partnerships. Target audience is Coop Tech students seeking real-world work exposure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 CTE elective credits per semester applied towards CDOS credential
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYC Department of SanitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Coop Tech's work-based learning initiatives and career training programs
• Elite PartnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing internship and career development opportunities for Coop Tech students
• DIIT (Division of Instructional and Information Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationNYC DOE technology division partner supporting IT programs and technical education initiatives
• NubianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing work-based learning opportunities for students
• CVS HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare industry partner providing internship and employment pathways for health services students
• BrothersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization offering career development opportunities for students
• Center ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner supporting construction and building trades programs
• TeddyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing career training and placement opportunities
• NYC Construction UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with construction trade unions providing pre-apprenticeship programs and union recruitment pathways for eligible students
• Healthcare FacilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organizations providing clinical experience and internship opportunities for CNA and health services students
• Cisco Networking AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology education partner providing curriculum, tools, and certification preparation for IT networking programs

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Big Picture Learning: Nonprofit network of schools built around interest-driven, workplace-embedded learning. Comparable to Coop Tech in using work-based learning as a core instructional method and in serving public high school students.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing young adults (18-24) with technical training, professional skills, and corporate internships — directly comparable to Coop Tech's WBL-plus-classroom model but for slightly older learners.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing tuition-free IT training and job placement to underemployed adults in multiple US cities. Comparable to Coop Tech's IT/networking program in mission and target population, with stronger employment-outcomes infrastructure.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): National nonprofit operating career academies within public high schools focused on industry-themed pathways (IT, healthcare, finance, hospitality). Directly comparable model delivering CTE certifications and work-based learning to public high school students.
• The Door – Broome Street Academy: NYC nonprofit serving youth (12-24) with education, career training, health, and housing services, including CTE programming. Directly comparable target population (NYC youth including those disconnected from school).
• HERE to HERE: Bronx-based nonprofit building employer-connected career pathways for young adults through school and industry partnerships. Closely comparable in NYC geography and youth CTE focus.
• NPower: National nonprofit offering free IT training and job placement to veterans and young adults from under-resourced communities. Comparable to Coop Tech's IT track in training content and target population, with a corporate-employer partner network model.
• NYC P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School): NYC-specific six-year CTE program combining high school, college, and workplace learning. Directly comparable to Coop Tech in serving NYC public school students with industry-aligned technical pathways and employer partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Tech: For-profit multi-campus trade school offering automotive, HVAC, electrical, culinary, and healthcare programs. Comparable in vocational curriculum and certification focus but operates in a private-paid tuition model rather than public-funded free access.
• JFF (Jobs for the Future): National workforce development intermediary that designs and funds CTE and apprenticeship initiatives across the US. Comparable in shaping the policy and funding environment Coop Tech operates in, though at a national rather than direct-delivery level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schoolofco-operativetechnicaleducation

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 CoOpTech