About Us

Vision Statement

Developing Character, Enriching Minds

Imagine Schools’ vision is for every student to reach his or her full potential and discover the pathways for life-long success.

Mission Statement

As a national family of public charter school campuses, Imagine Schools partners with parents and guardians in the education of their children by providing high quality schools that prepare students for lives of leadership, accomplishment, and exemplary character.

Founded in 2004 by Dennis and Eileen Bakke, Imagine Schools is a full-service operator of public charter schools. Like all charter schools, Imagine charter schools are publicly funded while privately operated.

Imagine Schools operates 75 schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia.  As a full-service charter school operator, Imagine is basically a multi-state “school district” educating approximately 42,000 students (about the same size as the Newark public school system, while larger than Cincinnati, Minneapolis, or Buffalo).

While charter schools have flexibility in choosing curriculum and developing innovative teaching practices, Imagine charter schools must test students and report results, just like the government-operated public schools, as required by federal and state laws. Sharing the same vision, local governing boards partner with Imagine Schools because of the expertise, quality, and programmatic variety.

As a member of the Imagine Schools’ family, schools share a common culture based on shared values and the Measures of Excellence. These elements are central to our approach in educating the whole child. While each school is uniquely tailored both in curriculum and structure, the integration of character development and academics sets Imagine campuses apart from other public schools.

We use five Measures of Excellence to evaluate the effectiveness of each Imagine charter school. The measures are parent choice, academic achievement, character development, shared values, and economic sustainability. We annually report the grades in each Measure for all campuses. Our sixth measure, school development, is used to gauge the overall growth of Imagine Schools.

Our work is guided by three shared values: integrity, justice, and fun. We apply “Joy at Work,” a unique organizational structure that puts teachers and school leaders squarely in charge of the decisions affecting the schools and students we serve.

We are excited to partner with parents, communities, and boards to deliver high quality education that prepares students for life-long success.

The Imagine Schools System

Imagine Schools currently operates through two affiliated organizations: Imagine Schools, Inc. and Imagine Schools Non-Profit, Inc.  Both Imagine Schools, Inc. and Imagine Schools Non-Profit, Inc. serve the exclusive purpose of educating children in grades PreK-12.  In furtherance of this purpose, Schoolhouse Finance, LLC, a subsidiary of Imagine Schools, Inc., provides long-term real estate financing for school buildings that are home to public charter schools operated by Imagine Schools, Inc. and Imagine Schools Non-Profit, Inc.

Subject to favorable rulings from the Internal Revenue Service, the organizations plan for Imagine Schools Non-Profit, Inc. to acquire ownership of Imagine Schools, Inc., after which Imagine Schools, Inc. would convert to nonprofit status.  Once this transition is complete, the entire Imagine Schools system will operate through nonprofit corporations exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.