Case Studies
Proof that growth is built, not guessed.
These snapshots show what happens when microschools and school partners commit to the unglamorous work: systems, consistency, and family-facing programs that strengthen funding and marketing.
Note: In select partnerships, we serve as a strategic partner (and equity partner) when it best supports long-term execution.
Featured case studies
Start with the two most common growth paths: stabilizing operations and launching revenue programs.
Community Hub Growth
ESTEAM Academy (Round Rock, TX)
A five-year view showing how locations typically stabilize and maintain strong annual tuition through steady retention and marketing consistency.
Read this case study
Rapid Program Growth
Apollo Academy (Tampa, FL)
A clear example of how early visibility and outreach can accelerate participation growth—often before profitability fully catches up.
Read this case studyESTEAM Academy (Round Rock, TX)
Over five years, ESTEAM Academy grew from a small pilot program to a sustained community hub—supported by consistent delivery, steady retention, and marketing momentum.
Growth Pattern
Annual tuition trajectory
- Year 1 (2021): $51K — introductory market year with limited awareness.
- Year 2 (2022): $88K — marketing and word-of-mouth drove doubling of enrollment.
- Year 3 (2023): $99K — steady retention and referrals.
- Year 4 (2024): $81K — transition and data reconciliation year.
- Year 5 (2025): $96K — stabilized operations and consistent growth.
Stabilization window
~2 years
Locations often reach self-sustaining enrollment within two years of launch.
Typical annual band
$90–100K
Maintained through steady family retention and marketing consistency.
Durability driver
Retention
Referrals + repeat families reduce reliance on constant acquisition.
What Made It Work
Key implementation moves
- Consistent program quality that families could count on year after year.
- Clear communication expectations with families (what happens, when, and how).
- Simple operational rhythms that staff could follow without constant correction.
- A repeatable marketing cycle that built awareness early instead of late.
Key Insight: Within two years of launch, locations typically reach self-sustaining enrollment and maintain strong annual totals through steady family retention and marketing.
This is what “organized growth” looks like in real life.
Want this stability for your school? Start with School Growth Systems and layer in Revenue Programs once your operations can support it.
Apollo Academy (Tampa, FL)
Apollo Academy demonstrated how early marketing translates to rapid growth in participation—especially when supported by systems, workflows, and a program model built for execution.
Strategic Partner (and Equity Partner)
Participation growth snapshot
- Year 1 (2024): ≈ 93 campers — limited visibility and late launch.
- Year 2 (2025): 359 campers — fourfold increase once advertising and community outreach began early.
Growth
4x
Participation growth accelerated with early outreach.
Timing
Early
Momentum is built before the first week starts.
Driver
Visibility
Consistent marketing and community presence created awareness.
What We Built
Systems + program model that could scale
We partnered with Apollo Academy and worked alongside the founder to build the systems, workflows, and program model that supported rapid growth.
- Operational workflows that reduced confusion and prevented last-minute scrambling.
- Program structure designed to match staffing capacity and facility constraints.
- Family-facing messaging that clarified what families were buying and why it mattered.
- Early marketing rhythm and community outreach plan that created enrollment momentum.
Key Insight: Participation growth often precedes profitability; strong marketing drives enrollment momentum and brand awareness within the first two years.
Start early. Build systems. Then scale.
What these case studies have in common
Different markets. Different starting points. The same pattern: organized operations plus clear programs create growth you can repeat.
School Growth Systems
Growth that doesn’t rely on heroic effort
- Clear roles and expectations
- Consistent family communication
- Repeatable routines for staff and leadership
- Enrollment and onboarding workflows that don’t break under pressure
Revenue Programs
Programs that strengthen funding and marketing
- Seasonal programs (summer + school breaks)
- Clubs and workshops families understand
- Program calendars that are easy to sell and run
- Early marketing rhythm that builds participation momentum
Book a call
Tell us what you’re building. We’ll route you to the right lane—School Growth Systems (Nicholle) or Revenue Programs (JoAnn).
Systems
Talk to Nicholle
Best fit if you need clearer processes, staff structure, consistent communication, and a rhythm your team can sustain.
Book a Systems Call
Programs
Talk to JoAnn
Best fit if you want to launch or improve family-facing programs that support funding and marketing.
Book a Programs CallIf you prefer an intake form, link your primary “Book a Call” button to your intake page and route requests automatically.
