↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

VITA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 853371855 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.vsihq.org
revenue
$136K
expenses
$111K
net assets
$25K
employees
mission · from form 990

Toprovidefreehighschooleducationtostudents

profile · synthesized from sources

Vita High School is a learner-driven Montessori high school in Phoenix, AZ, blending AI-powered tools with Montessori principles to help students master academics, develop life skills, and pursue personal goals. The school serves teens seeking an alternative to traditional education, emphasizing self-direction, real-world application, and holistic development. Founded in 2022, it operates as a nonprofit under the Vita Education Foundation.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Engagement
Involves field trips, guest speakers, service learning, and community projects that connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.
DreamBuilder AI
AI-powered tool that helps students create 20-year life visions, set SMART goals, and receive ongoing support in building their dream lives.
Life Skills Program
Teaches financial literacy, social-emotional learning, physical health, and workplace skills such as typing, email etiquette, and resume writing.
Success Curriculum
Program focused on purpose development, goal setting, and personal mastery, including Dream Vision, quarterly goals, and weekly 1:1 coaching sessions.
activities · 9 groups

what they do

  • Youth and Family Coaching Support 2 activities
    • Academic and personal development coaching
      Provides weekly 1:1 coaching sessions covering academics, social-emotional well-being, and personal goals, alongside weekly team meetings for student accountability and peer support.
    • Student Support and Mentorship
      Provides personalized onboarding and mentorship for new students, weekly 1:1 coaching sessions covering academics, social-emotional well-being, and personal goals, and facilitates weekly team meetings for student accountability and peer support.
  • Weekend and Supplemental Meal Provision for Youth 2 activities
    • Community-Based Meal Program
      Operates a community-based meal program where students cook with certified staff using food sourced from St. Mary’s Food Bank, with students rotating weekly to cook lunch under staff supervision.
    • Student meal program with experiential learning
      Operates a community-based meal program where students cook lunch weekly in rotating teams under certified staff supervision using food from St. Mary’s Food Bank, integrating practical life skills into the school experience.
  • School-Based Youth Workshops and Curriculum Programs 2 activities
    • Curriculum Development and Piloting
      Piloted its "Purpose and Life Curriculum" in four different high school classrooms and hosted its first summer camp.
    • Pilot programs and curriculum development
      Piloted its Purpose and Life Curriculum in 4 different high school classrooms and hosted its first summer camp to test and expand educational offerings.
  • Needs-Based Educational Financial Aid 2 activities
    • Financial aid and scholarship support
      Offers need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships to support student enrollment and accessibility.
    • Financial and Transportation Assistance for Students
      Offers need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships to support student enrollment, and provides free public transportation cards to students in need for use on the Phoenix Metro bus system.
  • Tuition-Free College Credit for High School Students 1 activity
    • College credit acceleration program
      Enables all students to begin earning college credit in 9th grade through a partnership with Arizona State University, with opportunities to accumulate credits before graduation.
  • Youth Civic Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Life skills application and experiential learning
      Ensures all learners apply life skills learned in school to real-life situations outside of school, reinforcing practical, hands-on development.
  • School Search and Enrollment Support 1 activity
    • Student enrollment and onboarding support
      Provides access to DreamBuilder AI, Starter Kit, and Explorers Group for prospective families upon form submission, along with personalized onboarding and mentorship for new students transitioning from traditional schools, homeschooling, or other alternative education models.
  • Post-Secondary Transition Support 1 activity
    • Student success outcomes tracking
      Has achieved a 100% college acceptance rate for graduates over the past three years, demonstrating strong post-secondary outcomes.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Alternative High School Education
      Operates an alternative high school program for approximately 50 students, structuring the school day with academic blocks and dedicated time for dream goals and life skills. The curriculum includes STEM and Humanities instruction, online college courses, AI-driven curricula, and project-based learning, with a focus on earning college credit through a partnership with Arizona State University.
    • Community Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities
      Offers opportunities for external individuals to engage with the school through business calls, lunch volunteering, and coaching calls.
    • Community engagement and volunteer programs
      Offers opportunities for external individuals to participate in business calls, lunch volunteering, and coaching calls with the school, fostering community involvement in student development.
    • Innovative academic scheduling and instruction
      Structures the school day with a 4-hour morning block for academics using 2-hour learning blocks for STEM and Humanities, incorporating online college courses, AI-driven curricula, and project-based learning.
    • Organizational capacity and growth
      Began operations with 24 students and 2 educators, grew to 30 students and 4 staff by the end of the first year, and served approximately 50 students with 5 staff members in its third year, reflecting steady institutional growth.
    • Transportation assistance for students
      Provides free public transportation cards to students in need for use on the Phoenix Metro bus system to support access and attendance.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$136K
Contributions & grants$76K56%
Program service revenue$59K43%
Investment income
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$111K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$66K
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$25K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$25K
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Andrew Lee Director CEO STEM Educator 70 $36K
Rio Stinger Associate Director Humanities Educator 55 $31K
relationships · 13

who they work with

  • 4.0 Schools Partner — Founder Andrew Lee was accepted into 4.0 School's Essentials Fellowship and later Vita completed 4.0 Schools' New Normal Fellowship and Pathways Fellowship.
  • A for Arizona Funder — Received $80,000 from the Innovation Fund from A for Arizona to pilot Vita's first year.
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — Administers the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program that funds student tuition at Vita High School.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Partner institution through which students can earn college credit before high school graduation.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Partnership enabling Vita High School students to earn college credit starting in 9th grade.
  • Edkey Partner — Partners with Edkey, where students enroll with Sequoia Choice (an accredited online charter high school within Edkey) but attend Vita's programming.
  • High Tech High Partner — Vita was accepted to High Tech High's New School Creation Fellowship.
  • Life School of Atlanta Partner — Founder completed a school founding apprenticeship at the Life School of Atlanta.
  • STO4Kidz Partner — Partner organization through which families can access tax credit scholarships (STO) to fund tuition at Vita High School.
  • St. Mary’s Food Bank Partner — Provides food for Vita High School's community-based meal program where students cook with certified staff.
  • Teach for America Partner — Founders Andrew Lee and Rio Stinger served in Teach for America, earning M.Ed's and teaching certificates.
  • Vita High School Partner — Operated by VITA EDUCATION FOUNDATION as part of its educational programming.
  • Vita High School Partner — Operational partner or affiliated program of VITA EDUCATION FOUNDATION