You’re doing great work. Now let’s make sure you’re ready to do more of it, successfully.
When families start asking, “Can you open another one near us?” it’s one of the biggest compliments your school can receive. It means your mission is resonating. Your students are thriving. Your reputation is growing.
At ICIC, we want to see more high-quality schools grow and serve more students across Indiana. But as former operators and advisors, we’ve also seen what happens when schools expand too soon or without the right foundation in place. Growth is exciting. But it’s also a major responsibility.
So how do you know if your school is truly ready?
Here are four critical areas to assess before you say yes to growth.
Before you replicate what you’ve built, make sure it’s delivering for the students you serve today.
Let’s say your school has high overall test scores. That’s a great start. But are multilingual learners growing? Are students with IEPs being meaningfully included and supported? Are your discipline practices helping kids stay engaged or pushing them out?
If your current model works for most students but leaves some behind, scaling it could amplify—not fix—that gap.
The most successful expansions come from schools that can clearly articulate what makes their approach work and demonstrate that it's producing strong, equitable results.
💡 Example: A K–8 school wanted to expand to serve high school students. Their K–8 model was strong, but internal assessments showed that middle school writing outcomes lagged. They paused the expansion for one year to revamp their ELA approach, then moved forward with confidence.
A waitlist is great but the kind of demand matters.
Opening a second site based on buzz from across town isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not the same as community-rooted demand. Look for signs that families understand and support your unique value, not just the fact that you’re “not the district.”
If your model still relies on the founding principal or a few long-tenured staff to “hold it together,” you may not be ready yet. Successful growth requires clear systems, strong mid-level leadership, and documented processes.
💡 Example: A school leader was eager to replicate but realized all family outreach was running through one enrollment manager and she had no backup. They paused to build an enrollment playbook, train a second staffer, and automate parts of their outreach process. A year later, they launched a second site with smoother systems and double the applications.
Finding the right building can be a major barrier or a strategic advantage. Can your next location support your model? Do you have the financial runway to handle delays, surprises, or under-enrollment in year one?
Expansion costs often show up before new per-pupil dollars do. That means schools need to budget not just for rent, but for startup staff, marketing, technology, and materials. It’s possible—but it takes planning.
💡 Example: One charter planned to open a second school in a converted warehouse. Permits fell through two months before the school year. Because they had built a 20% contingency into their budget, they secured a short-term lease and avoided canceling student enrollment.
We believe more families in Indiana deserve access to schools like yours. If you’re serving students well and rooted in your community, expansion might be the right next step. But it’s not just about opening a second building t’s about protecting what makes your school special, and bringing it to life somewhere new without compromise.
If you're thinking about growing, let's talk. ICIC can help you pressure test your plan, strengthen your systems, and connect with the right supports at the right time.
Growth is possible. Let’s make sure it’s done right.
