We built what we wished existed when we were in your shoes.
RYSE was founded by a Charlotte parent who studied families' struggles with school choice, lived them herself, and watched friends face their effects. Then she decided that we can do better.
Meet Savannah, our founder
A little about the person behind RYSE.
Savannah Keith Gress is the founder and CEO of RYSE, with nearly two decades of experience in education policy and data analytics. She has worked inside school districts, led nonprofit learning and evaluation teams, and partnered with schools and districts to address education inequities. She holds a master's degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
She is also the parent of two elementary-aged children, and she knows firsthand how challenging the school choice process can be. When her kids were starting school, she found dozens of school options, but the tools most families lean on, like national school ratings, are the very ones research shows can be misleading. She had the training to build her own workarounds (spreadsheets, scatter plots), but she wanted something better for all families.
So she built RYSE to give every family the insight and tools to choose a school they'll love, and contribute to a stronger, more just education system for every child.
Recognized by the entrepreneurship community
We are grateful to be part of a startup community that backs founders building things that matter.
Selected for a 2025 NC IDEA MICRO grant, which backs early-stage North Carolina founders.
Learn more
Selected as one of five startups for Charlotte's first gBETA accelerator.
Learn more
Won 1st place in the gALPHA showcase pitch competition.
Learn more
Named a top 10 finalist in the 53 Ideas Pitch Competition, supported by the South Piedmont Community College Small Business Center and Fifth Third Bank.
Learn moreWhat makes RYSE different
We focus on fit
The "Top 10 Best Schools" lists don't consider your unique kiddo or your priorities. We help you weigh both alongside quality school info, so you find the school that's a great fit!
Data + heart
We provide meaningful data, but we also know that numbers can't tell the whole story because schools are communities. We help you ask school communities informed questions and feel the fit beyond the stats.
Built for families, not funders
We built RYSE as a business, not a nonprofit, on purpose. We answer to families, not donors with their own interests, so that our focus stays on building something you actually love and value.
Access for every family
We believe every family deserves access to these tools regardless of financial circumstances. We offer scholarships of 50% or 100% off for families experiencing financial barriers that prevent them from accessing our resources.
No documentation required. We trust families to self-identify their need.
To apply, simply email hello@rysekids.com with a brief description of your situation. We will work with you to make sure you have the access you need.
Partnering with our community
We love working with community partners to extend these resources to as many families as possible.
Schools
For schools whose students will be transitioning to a new school, we can support your oldest grade of students and their families as they consider their options.
Organizations
Youth-serving organizations, family support nonprofits, and parent groups can extend RYSE resources to the communities they serve.
Interested in a partnership? Reach out to hello@rysekids.com with details about your organization and how we can help.