Rising Academies

At the heart of Rising Academies is a mission to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for those who need them most. Founded in Sierra Leone in 2014, the organization initially provided emergency education to children affected by the Ebola epidemic before establishing its first school in April 2015. Rising Academies believes in the potential of every student and is not academically selective. Their core values drive their commitment to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to succeed in further education, their careers, and everyday life. This commitment extends to fostering a safe and supportive learning environment, with a strong emphasis on child protection and safeguarding.

Rising Academies operates a dual model: they innovate through low-cost private schools they own and manage directly, and then leverage these insights to partner with governments and other organizations to enhance the quality of public school systems at scale. This approach has led to significant growth, and as of mid-2024, Rising Academies supports over 250,000 students across more than 900 schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Rwanda. The organization is a certified B Corp, recognized for its social and environmental performance. Their methodology centers on providing great curriculum materials, intensive teacher coaching, and actionable data to empower teachers and school leaders. Independent evaluations have consistently shown that students in Rising Academies' programs make learning gains two to three times larger than their peers in comparable schools. They are also at the forefront of integrating technology into education in resource-constrained environments, developing tools like 'Rori', an AI-powered math tutor chatbot, and 'Tari', a support system for teachers, accessible via basic smartphones and WhatsApp. This focus on both high-quality traditional schooling and innovative digital solutions underscores their dedication to tackling the global learning crisis and ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.