School of Rock provides performance-based music education with lessons in guitar, bass, piano, vocals and drums and an emphasis on live student performances. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia in 1998, it has expanded into an international franchise operating more than 80 company-owned and franchised schools across 26 U.S. states and Mexico. The company offers beginner through advanced programs and positions performance as a core part of its curriculum. Corporate headquarters were relocated to Burr Ridge, Illinois, and Chris Catalano was appointed CEO in July 2010. School of Rock is pursuing rapid growth: it plans to triple its school count by 2015 and anticipates increasing enrollment by more than 50 percent in the next two years. Current initiatives focus on expanding in North America and accelerating franchise development. School of Rock is a Teaneck, New Jersey–based music education company that provides instruction to children ages 7 to 18. It operates almost 69 schools across 25 U.S. states and Mexico and serves over 6,500 students. Areas of instruction include guitar, drums, keyboards, bass guitar and vocals. Led by Chairman and CEO Chris Catalano, the company received an additional $3.5M investment from its majority shareholder Sterling Partners. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its North American expansion. Two new locations will open this summer in Port Jefferson, NY and Annapolis, MD.

Total raised

$9M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Apr 2012