Draft:Sora Schools
Online private school
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Sora Schools is an online private school based in New York, NY, serving students in grades 5 through 12. Founded in 2018 by Garrett Smiley, Wesley Samples, and Indra Sofian — three graduates of the Georgia Institute of Technology — the school uses a project-based learning model in place of traditional lectures and standardized testing.[1][2][3] Sora Schools is accredited by Cognia and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is approved by the NCAA.[4]
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Submission declined on 15 March 2026 by ChrysGalley (talk).
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Comment: Pretty much all the sources relate to funding and that is specifically referenced in WP:CORPTRIV as run of the mill material, which does not help establish notability. The one truly reliable source, US News & World Report, is just a database extract. See WP:SIRS, most organisations of this sort will struggle to meet the notability requirements. ChrysGalley (talk) 11:39, 15 March 2026 (UTC)
| Sora Schools | |
|---|---|
New York, NY, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Online private school |
| Established | 2018 |
| Founders | Garrett Smiley, Wesley Samples, Indra Sofian |
| Grades | 6–12 |
| Accreditation | Cognia, WASC |
| Website | https://soraschools.com/ |
History
Sora Schools was founded in 2018 by Garrett Smiley, Wesley Samples, and Indra Sofian, who met while attending the Georgia Institute of Technology.[5][2][6] The founders developed the concept for the school prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of creating a full-time virtual school built around student-directed, project-based learning.[1] The school enrolled its first seven students in the fall of 2019, with three faculty members and approximately $150,000 in initial funding.[5]
In October 2020, Sora announced a $2.7 million seed round led by Union Square Ventures, with participation from Village Global, ReThink Education, Firebolt Ventures, Peak State Ventures, Contrary Capital, and angel investor Taylor Greene.[1][7] The funding was intended to support the hiring of additional faculty, software engineers, and curriculum development staff.[1]
In November 2021, the company raised an $18 million Series A round co-led by General Catalyst (with partner Hemant Taneja) and Union Square Ventures (with partner Rebecca Kaden), with additional participation from Gokul Rajaram of Firebolt Ventures.[8] As part of the round, Michael Lynton, chairman of Snap Inc. and former CEO and chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, joined the school’s board of directors.[8]
In March 2024, Sora raised an additional round; according to Crunchbase, the company’s total funding stood at approximately $28.8 million as of that date.[9] In January 2026, the company announced a further $10 million raise led by existing investors Union Square Ventures and General Catalyst, with funds earmarked for expansion into additional formats including public school partnerships and regional microschools.[10][11]
Educational model
Sora Schools employs a project-based learning model in which students work on interdisciplinary projects rather than following a traditional lecture-and-exam format.[1][12] Classes are conducted in live, synchronous online sessions.[1][12] The school uses mastery-based assessment rather than traditional letter grades, and students have a degree of choice in what they study and how they demonstrate their learning.[13][14][15]
According to Niche, Sora Schools has a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 8 to 1.[16]
Accreditation and recognition
Sora Schools is accredited by Cognia, a global accreditation organization for pre-K through 12th-grade schools, and by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).[4] The school is also approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), meaning its courses meet NCAA eligibility requirements for student-athletes.[4]
The school has been profiled by Private School Review, which lists it as a private school in Atlanta, Georgia.[17] It is also listed in the U.S. News & World Report education directory.[18]
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2019 | Pre-seed | ~$150,000 | |
| October 2020 | Seed | $2.7 million | Union Square Ventures |
| November 2021 | Series A | $18 million | General Catalyst, Union Square Ventures |
| March 2024 | Undisclosed | ||
| January 2026 | Undisclosed | $10 million | Union Square Ventures, General Catalyst |
Including the January 2026 round, Sora Schools has raised approximately $38.8 million in total venture capital funding.[9][10] Key investors include Union Square Ventures, General Catalyst, Firebolt Ventures, Village Global, ReThink Education, and Contrary Capital.[9]
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