101 Top School and Charter Networks

School networks are one of the most important innovations in the modern era of U.S. K-12 education. They have boosted achievement and graduation rates and expanded quality options in the communities that need them the most. They’re so important that we recently released a new book on the subject called Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks For Smarter Personalized and Project Based Learning.

Today, we are recognizing 101 great school networks ranging from membership associations to charter management organizations that have achieved scaled impact to improve education for millions of children. (The * means they were mentioned in Better Together.)

Deeper Learning Networks

• Asia Society: International Studies School Network
• Bard Early Colleges: Network of 9 schools where student earn college credit from Bard
• Big Picture Learning: International network of student-centered secondary schools*
  • See our feature on dual enrollment and podcast with their co-director
• Building 21: 2 competency-based Pennsylvania high schools with 5 affiliated schools that form a diploma network
  • See feature
• ConnectEd: California network*
• EdVisions Schools: Upper midwest PBL network
• Envision Education: Three Bay Area schools serving grades 6-12
• EL Education: National network of 165 project-based schools*
• High Tech High: 14 great San Diego PBL schools*
  • See our recap of a film tour of HTH, feature on the HTH GSE, and podcast on Making the City the Text with founder and director
• Internationals Network for Public Schools: 22 national schools
• New Tech Network: National network of 200 project-based schools*
  • See feature on their vision, work with districts and project and place-based learning, and podcast with CEO Lydia Dobyns
• New Visions for Public Schools: New York schools
• Next Generation Learning Challenges grantees: About 150 next gen high schools*
• P21 Exemplars: 75 schools nationwide
• Science Leadership Academy and Inquiry Schools: Philadelphia
• Teton Science Schools: Great place-based network with a big outdoor education program and GSE*
• The Urban Assembly: 16 personalized secondary schools in NYC
• XQ Institute: Network of 18 grantee schools*
  • See feature and their new Place Network

Personalized Learning Innovators

• Acton Academy: Global network of learner-driven microschools*
  • See our feature on learner-driven communities
• Alpha Public Schools: San Jose, CA
  • See our feature on their personalized blend
• Beacon Network Schools: Denver
  • See our feature on a new Denver middle school
• Da Vinci Schools: Los Angeles
  • See our feature on personalization and projects at Da Vinci
• IDEA Public Schools: South Texas K-12 network
  • See our trip report and recap of personalized learning in Texas
• Montessori for All: K-8 schools in Austin and San Antonio
• NAF: 644 career academies with certified work experiences*
  • See feature
• Rocky Mountain Prep: Denver elementary network*
• Summit Public Schools: Redwood City, CA
  • Summit offers its platform and PD to more than 330 partner schools
• Thrive Public Schools: San Diego K-12 network*
  • See our feature and HQBPL case study
• YouthBuild: 260 mostly DOL-funded career-focused high schools*

Great East Coast Charter Networks

• Ascend Public Charter Schools: A K-12 Brooklyn network focused on liberal arts
• Achievement First: CT, NY & RI
• Albany Charter School Network: Albany, NY
• AppleTree Institute: An early learning charter network in DC*
  • See our 2016 trip report
• Brooklyn LAB Charter Schools: Two middle schools and a new high school*
  • See feature on personalized math At LAB
• Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy: Rhode Island
• Brooke Charter Schools: Boston
• Charter Schools USA: Manages 76 schools in seven southeastern states
• DC Prep: Five K-8 schools in DC
• Democracy Prep: College prep and travel-based experiences*
• Excel Academy: Top performing MA secondary network
• Friendship Public Charter Schools: 12 schools serving P-12 in DC
• Mastery Charter Schools: 24 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden
• Match Education: Boston
  • See our feature on Match Beyond, a degree program for working adults
• North Star Academy: 13 schools serving K-12 in NJ
• Success Academy Charter Schools: 46 high performing NYC schools
• Uncommon Schools: 52 college prep K-12 schools in NY, NJ and MA

Great Central Charter Networks

• Breakthrough Schools: 8 K-8 schools in Ohio
• Carmen Schools of Science and Technology: A Milwaukee Secondary network
• Chicago International Charter School: 16 diverse campuses
• Collegiate Academies: Six secondary schools in New Orleans
• Firstline Schools: 6 schools serving P-12 in New Orleans
• Freedom Preparatory Academy: A Memphis P-12 network
• Gestalt Community Schools: A K-12 network in Memphis, TN
• Harmony Public Schools: Great PBL + STEM schools in Texas*
  • See case study
• Hiawatha Academies: K-12 network in Minneapolis
• Houston Gateway Academy: A P-12 network
• Indianapolis Classical Schools: A 2 high school network
• Intrinsic Schools: Chicago secondary school
• KIPP: National network*
  • See feature on Denver partnership and their international spin-off
• LEAD Public Schools: A Nashville network of six secondary schools
• LEARN Charter School Network: A Chicago K-8 network of 10 schools
• National Heritage Academies: Manages 87 schools in 9 (mostly midwest) states
• Noble Network of Charter Schools: Chicago
• RePublic Schools: 6 secondary schools in Nashville, TN & Jackson, MS
• Responsive Education: Manages more than 70 schools in 7 brands in TX and AR
• Tindley Accelerated Schools: 6 schools serving K-12 in Indianapolis
• Uplift Education: 40 K-12 schools on 20 Dallas campuses
• Valor Collegiate Academies: 2 middle schools and a new high school in Nashville
• YES Prep: 18 rigorous Houston secondary schools

Great Western Charter Networks

• Aspire Public Schools: 40 K-12 schools in CA & TN
• Alliance of College-Ready Public Schools: 25 Los Angeles secondary schools
• BASIS Charter Schools: Great college prep network in Phoenix
  • See trip report
• Bright Star Schools: 7 K-12 schools in southern California
• Camino Nuevo Charter Academy: 8 southern California campuses serving K-12
• Citizens of the World: 4 LA schools, opening in KC
• DSST Public Schools: 14 great STEM secondary schools in Denver (and the 2018 Broad Prize winner)
• EAGLE College Preparatory Schools: Schools in Phoenix and St Louis operated by Open Sky Education
• Great Hearts Academies: Phoenix and Texas
  • See our trip report
• Green Dot: 30 secondary schools in Los Angeles, Memphis, and Seattle
• Impact Public Schools: A new elementary network in Seattle
• Leadership Public Schools: Oakland, CA
• Rocketship Education: Elementary schools in CA, TN, WI, & DC
  • See feature on parent involvement
• Strive Preparatory Schools: 11 elementary and middle schools in Denver
• Synergy Academies: 3 schools serving K-12 in Los Angeles
• Vista College Prep: A new elementary network in Phoenix
• Voices College-Bound Language Academies: 4 South Bay elementary schools

Faith-Based Networks

• Alliance for Catholic Education: Notre Dame’s initiative to support Catholic schools
• Cristo Rey: 35 urban Catholic high schools in 22 states
• Hope Christian Schools: 7 schools in Wisconsin operated by Open Sky Education
• Partnership for Inner-City Education: Six NYC schools (good enough to warrant a visit from the Pope)
• Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools (TWIN-CS): An initiative of the Roche Center at Boston College

Other Interesting Networks

• Bridge International Academies: Operates 600 low-cost schools in 5 countries
  • See our summary
• CottageClass: A network of microschools and out of school learning experiences
• LRNG: Out of school learning experiences with big concentrations in 10 cities
• RAMTEC: Robotics, engineering, welding training at 23 Ohio sites
  • See our trip report
• Thrival World Academies: Study abroad programs in Oakland and Indianapolis
• Wildflower Schools: A network of 22 Montessori early learning centers*
• SPARK Schools: Low-cost private schools in South Africa*
  • See our trip report

Curriculum Networks

In Better Together, we described some partial school models that are widely adopted and important networks in their own right

• AVID: Guidance and supports*
• CAPS Network: Profession-based learning*
• Project Lead The Way: Great STEM content and PD*

Bonus: District Networks

• Alliance for Excellent Education: FutureReady Schools
• Battelle for Kids’ EdLeader21: About 200 districts committed to the 4Cs
• Digital Promise: League of Innovative Schools
• Great Schools Partnership operates the New England Secondary School Consortium
• Virginia School Consortium for Learning, now led by Dr. Pam Moran

For more, see:

• Better Together: Why Schools Should Work in Networks (podcast with Lydia Dobyns)
• The Power of Us: A Network Powering Projects, Changing Lives (NTAC report)

Is there a network you’d add to the list? Share in the comments section below. Check out our other recent Smart Lists at our Smart List Series.

This Smart List was developed by Getting Smart, who helps schools, districts, and impact-oriented partners design and implement powerful learning experiences and forward-leaning strategies, and thought leadership campaigns. Learn more about how we can help you extend your impact.

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