Smart Lists: 70+ Top Charter Networks & School Managers

We’ve updated this post for 2017! Check out our latest list: 75 Top School and Charter Networks!

Getting Smart is acknowledging people and organizations making a difference with the 3rd Annual Smart Lists. During October and November you’ll see about 20 ‘Best of’ lists, not in order, not exhaustive, just people we appreciate doing innovative work.

Today we are recognizing great school management organizations. They have all achieved scale, impact and/or influence.

Great Eastern Charter Networks

• Achievement First: CT, NY & RI
• Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy: RI
• Brooke Charter Schools: Boston
• Brighter Choice: Albany, NY
• E.L. Haynes: DC
• Success Charter Network: NYC
• DC Prep: DC
• Chicago International
• Uncommon Schools: NY & NJ
• Mastery Charter Schools: Philadelphia
• Match Education: Boston
  • See feature on Match Beyond
• Friendship Public Charter Schools: DC
• North Star Academy: Newark, NJ

Great Central Charter Networks

• Chicago International Charter School: 16 diverse campuses
• Carmen High School of Science and Technology: Milwaukee, Secondary
• Inquiry Schools, Chicago
• KIPP: National network
• Breakthrough Schools: Cleveland
• Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy: Rhode Island
• Collegiate Academies, New Orleans
• Firstline Schools: New Orleans
• LEARN Charter School Network: Chicago, elementary
• Noble Network of Charter Schools: Chicago
• Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School: Indianapolis
• Gestalt Community Schools: Memphis
• IDEA Public Schools: South Texas
  • See recent trip report
• Uplift Education: Dallas
• YES Prep: Houston
• Exalt Education: Little Rock
• RePublic Schools: Nashville, TN & Jackson, MS
• Valor Collegiate Academies: Nashville
• Lead Public Schools: Nashville

Great Western Charter Networks

• Alliance of College Ready Public Schools: Los Angeles
• Aspire Public Schools: CA
• Synergy Academies: Los Angeles
• Camino Nuevo Charter Academy: Los Angeles
• BASIS Charter Schools: Phoenix
  • See trip report
• High Tech High: San Diego
• Rocketship Education: CA, TN, WI
• Summit Public Schools: Bay Area, CA
  • There’s still time to become a partner school
• Green Dot: Los Angeles
• Global Village Academies: Denver
• DSST Public Schools: Denver
• Rocky Mountain Prep: Denver
• Great Hearts Academies: Phoenix
  • See trip report
• Strive Preparatory Schools: Denver

Educational Management Organizations

• Charter Schools USA: Manages 70 schools in seven states, 60,000 students
• Connections Education: National online learning provider, Nexus Academy #
  • See feature
• K12: National online learning provider #
  • See feature on 3 virtual academies
• Mosaica Education: Manages over 90 schools in CA, CO, GA, IL, NC, NM, NY, OH, PA, WI
• National Heritage Academies: Manages 82 schools in CO, IL, GA, LA, MI, NC, OH, NY, WI
• Responsive Education: Manages 65 campuses in 4 TX networks
• Academica: Operates more than 100 schools in FL, CA, UT, NV, TX, DC
• Leona Group: Operates nearly 70 schools in AZ, FL, IN, MI, OH
• Insight Schools: Operates in 11 states and DC
• AdvancePath Academics: National dropout prevention network
  • See feature
• Educational Enterprises: HOPE Christian Schools, EAGLE College Prep Schools, and Compass Educational Programs

Deeper Learning Networks

• Asia Society: International Studies School Network: 40 schools in 8 states
• Big Picture Learning: International network of 94 student-centered secondary schools
  • See feature on dual enrollment
• ConnectEd: California network
• EdVisions Schools: upper midwest PBL network
• Envision Education: three Bay Area PBL high schools
• Expeditionary Learning: National network
• High Tech High: 10 great San Diego PBL schools
  • See recap of a film tour about HTH
• Internationals Network for Public Schools: 22 schools serving young people new to English
• New Tech Network: National network of 200 PBL schools
  • See feature on work with school districts
• New Visions for Public Schools
  • See 20 school profiles from these networks

Faith-Based Networks

• Cristo Rey: 30 urban Catholic high schools
• Alliance for Catholic Education: Notre Dame’s initiative to support Catholic schools
• Partnership for Inner-City Education: Six NYC schools (good enough to warrant a visit from the Pope)

This Smart List was published in partnership with Getting Smart Services. Getting Smart provides advocacy, advisory, consulting and public relations services to turn ideas into impact. We help for-profit and nonprofit organizations construct cohesive and forward-thinking strategies for branding, awareness, advancement and communications.

* Learn Capital Partner, # Getting Smart Partner, ** Board member or Advisor

Stay in-the-know with all things EdTech and innovations in learning by signing up to receive the weekly Smart Update.