The Collaborative School Competitors

Harmony Public Schools is a network of PreK-12 college preparatory public charter schools across Texas. For more than two decades, our schools have provided students from under-served communities the opportunity to excel in their studies in a small classroom environment focused on providing the skills they need to succeed in life. The Texas-based non-profit organization was established by a group of dedicated educators and university academicians who were passionate about the way children approached math and science. Since 2000, HPS has grown to 60+ campuses with more than 50,000 students, with a 98 percent graduation rate for seniors and a 100 percent college acceptance rate. Our mission is to prepare each student for higher education by providing a safe, caring, and collaborative atmosphere featuring a quality, student-centered educational program with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Harmony Core Values: • Every student will learn and grow into a successful and productive citizen. • We do whatever it takes to help our students reach their goals. • Our students, parents, and staff work in harmony to create a strong community of success. • We guide our students to value integrity, show respect, and be responsible. • Every student will graduate with a strong understanding and appreciation of STEM and how it connects to the real world.

The Exploratorium is the global leader in informal learning, designed to ignite curiosity and inspire creativity in people of all ages. The world-renowned science museum creates original, interactive exhibits, on display at more than 1,000 science centers, museums and public spaces around the world. Dedicated to education reform in and out of the classroom, the Exploratorium is a premier professional development center for educators and a creator of award-winning educational resources. Since 1969, the Exploratorium has influenced generations of entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, teachers, students, children, museum professionals and everyday doers, reaching nearly 200 million people annually from around the globe. In the spring of 2013, the Exploratorium will move to Pier 15 in the heart of San Francisco's waterfront district, where it will celebrate a new era of experiences that encourage critical thinking and awaken wonder for generations to come. Founded in 1969 by Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, our mission is to create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs, and tools that help people nurture their understanding about the world around them. We believe that following your curiosity and asking questions can lead to amazing moments of discovery, learning, and awareness, and can increase confidence in your ability to understand how the world works. We also believe that being playful and having fun is an important part of the process for people of all ages.

NewSchools Venture Fund is a is a national nonprofit venture philanthropy working to reimagine public education. Since our founding, in 1998, we have invested nearly $200 million in 200 education ventures. Our investments were instrumental in the creation of nearly 470 new schools with the potential to serve more than 200,000 students, and the development of ed tech products that serve more than 60 million students and their teachers. Learn more at www.newschools.org.