PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 2007--Apollo Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq:APOL) announced that it has acquired Insight Schools, an
innovator in online high school education.
Insight Schools, based in Portland, Oregon, is led by a management
team with significant experience in the area of K-12 online education.
The company was founded by Mr. Keith Oelrich, whose prior experience
includes positions as President and CEO of KC Distance Learning (KCDL)
and Apex Learning. Mr. Oelrich and his team are remaining with the
company under the new ownership. Apollo acquired Insight Schools in
October of 2006.
"The management team at Insight is exceptional and they are
similarly attuned to issues of academic quality, retention and
service," said Brian Mueller, President of Apollo Group. "We view this
as an opportunity to extend into a new business by bringing in a
seasoned management team, so that we can maintain our focus on our
important initiatives at University of Phoenix."
Insight partners with local communities and school districts to
build and operate their schools. Insight Schools launched their first
school, Insight Schools of Washington, in September 2006, with over
600 full-time students. Insight School of Washington is a statewide,
online public alternative high school; as a public school, the program
is tuition-free to students resident in Washington. All teachers at
Insight Schools are certified teachers, experienced in the subject
areas they teach, and mentors are also assigned to work with each
student to ensure that they are remaining active and engaged in their
schoolwork.
Students in grades 9-12 can attend and are able to select from six
academic tracks, such as Advanced Placement (AP), College Prep,
Foundations, or English as a Second Language (ESL). Students attend
classes via the Internet. Additionally, community-building
activities--both face-to-face and online--are organized by the school.
Like University of Phoenix, Insight Schools markets directly to
families, as opposed to providing content and services to school
districts.
"Online learning in the K-12 arena is gaining momentum across the
country," said Mueller. "We think this is an opportunity for us to
leverage our existing resources, management expertise, and national
presence to tap into an exciting and important new market."
Apollo Group, Inc. has been providing higher education programs to
working adults for almost 30 years. Apollo Group, Inc. operates
through its subsidiaries: The University of Phoenix, Inc.; Institute
for Professional Development; The College for Financial Planning
Institutes Corporation; and Western International University, Inc. The
consolidated enrollment in its educational programs makes it the
largest private institution of higher education in the United States.
It offers educational programs and services at 100 campuses and 159
learning centers in 39 states, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, Alberta,
British Columbia, Netherlands, and Mexico.
For more information about Apollo Group, Inc. and its
subsidiaries, call (800) 990-APOL or visit Apollo on the company
website at: www.apollogrp.edu.
CONTACT: Apollo Group, Inc., Phoenix
Investor Relations Contact:
Janess Pasinski, 480-557-1719
janess.pasinski@apollogrp.edu
Press Contact:
Ayla Dickey, 480-557-2952
ayla.dickey@apollogrp.edu
SOURCE: Apollo Group, Inc.
