Academica (charter school)
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| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida |
| Revenue | $39.8 million (modelled)[1] (2021) |
| Owner | Fernando Zulueta |
Number of employees | 165 (modelled)[1] (2021) |
| Website | www |
Academica is a for-profit private education company headquartered in Miami, Florida. As an education service provider (ESP), it services over 200 public charter schools in the United States.[2] It is owned and managed by CEO Fernando Zulueta and is considered one of Florida's largest school management companies. In 2011 it reported $158 million in revenue.[3]
Mater Academy, a charter school operator headquartered in Miami is "linked" to Academica.[4]
Fernando Zulueta had created a Miramar, Florida housing development in 1997 that needed a local school for the residents. He recruited Ruth Jacoby, who had over twenty years experience with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to be the first principal for Somerset Neighborhood School, a non-profit Charter school authorized by the Florida legislature in 1996.[5] Zulueta incorporated Academica in 1999 as a for-profit provider of services to charter schools. With the help of his brother, they grew an empire of 200 charter schools that rely on Academica for curriculum, tests, facilities, security, staff recruitment, budgeting, accounting and other services. The company also assists clients in launching independent charter schools by writing charter school applications, establishing corporate structures, providing experts to advocate and lobby government agencies, managing public relations & marketing, and ensuring regulatory compliance.[6] The “Academica umbrella” schools are from networks including Somerset Academy, Doral Academy, Pinecrest Academy and Mater Academy.[5]