Corporate Timeline
1982
The first Primrose School is founded in Atlanta by Paul and Marcy Erwin.
1988
The Erwins engage Jo Kirchner as a consultant for franchising criteria and marketing and open their fourth school, which is the first Primrose franchise school.
1990
Jo Kirchner joins Primrose as vice president.
Primrose launches franchising concept in Georgia.
1996
Primrose enhances the review of its standards in which school operating procedures are assessed. This internal review process, the Standards of Excellence Accreditation, is piloted in schools.
1998
Primrose achieves revenues of $44 million.
Primrose becomes the first educational child care company to receive accreditation from the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI) Council on Accreditation and School Improvement and the North Central Association Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the prestigious associations recognized as the gold standard in evaluating high schools, colleges and universities.
1999
The Erwins retire and sell Primrose Schools to Security Capital Corp., a Greenwich, Connecticut equity investment firm.
Jo Kirchner is named president and CEO.
2001
Primrose enhances the proprietary curriculum aligning it with early childhood research and best practices and names it Balanced Learning®. Revenues nearly double from 1998, to $85 million.
2002
Primrose celebrates its 20th anniversary.
2003
The Primrose School at Bentwater, the first corporate school, opens along with the brand’s new Support Center headquarters in Acworth, Ga.
Primrose Schools is the first preschool organization to incorporate wireless laptops in the classroom for use by both the students and teachers.
2004
Primrose launches the Expressive Language Development program, using sign language in the classroom to encourage infant and young toddler language development.
2005
Primrose launches www.PrimroseStore.com, with licensee Chattanooga Clothing Company, to provide parents with school uniforms and unique branded materials for home and at school.
Primrose opens a record number of schools in one year with 24 school openings and system revenues exceed $150 million.
The Standards of Excellence Accreditation launches throughout the Primrose Schools system, assessing each school against a unified criteria measuring the areas of Health and Safety, Educational Curriculum Delivery, Campus Environment, Business Management and Marketing and Communications.
2006
American Capital Strategies Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACAS), a publicly traded buyout and mezzanine fund with capital resources of approximately $7 billion in Bethesda, MD, acquires Primrose Holdings, Inc. from Security Capital Corporations in an investment of $63 million. Jo Kirchner continues her role as president and CEO of Primrose School Franchising Company.
Primrose Schools establishes a partnership with Reach Out and Read, a national not-for-profit organization that makes books and reading a part of pediatric care, with a $100,000 donation.
Primrose enhances Mucho Mundo®, proprietary Spanish language program with scripts for teachers, vocabulary cards, music, books, and a new program champion, Arturo the Burro puppet.
Primrose integrates KIDWARE® software programs into Preschool and Pre-K classrooms to provide online extensions to learning activities and experiences.
2007
Primrose Schools celebrates its 25th anniversary and commemorates the milestone by awarding a $25,000 college scholarship through a promotional sweepstakes.
Primrose Schools signs its 250th franchise agreement and achieves $236 million in system revenues.
Jo Kirchner is recognized as one of the “Top 25 Entrepreneurs” from Catalyst Magazine.
Primrose Schools is ranked #164 in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.
Primrose introduces new Thumbs Up!® physical activity curriculum developed in consultation with Dr. Steve Sanders, Director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science University of South Florida, who believes, “Children do not always learn physical skills on their own. They need adults to help them with challenging activities and practice.”
2008
Primrose Schools establishes an Education Advisory Board, a team of leading experts in early childhood education and development. The board helps Primrose Schools further enhance the high quality early childhood education it delivers nationwide, while also strengthening the relationship between Primrose and the communities it serves.
Primrose Schools enters into a strategic equity partnership with Roark Capital Group (www.RoarkCapital.com), an Atlanta-based private equity firm. The move further positions Primrose Schools to achieve its number one goal of advancing early childhood education in America. The new partnership will also promote our company’s continued, controlled national expansion to meet growing parental demand for quality early childhood education.
Primrose system revenues continue to grow, exceeding $269 million.
2009
Generosity continues with Primrose Schools nationwide donating $190,000 to Reach Out and Read.
Introduction of Dr. Mary Zurn’s parenting tips blog – www.DrZandFriends.com.
Consecutive growth continues. Primrose system revenues reach $286 million. This is more than double our company’s system revenues five years beforehand.
2010
New Primrose School of Education, a 22,000-square foot professional development and training facility, opens on our company’s corporate campus. The new building provides a larger facility for franchise owners and school management staff from across the country to attend classes that support all aspects of successfully running a school—from business management to implementation of the Balanced Learning® Curriculum.
Primrose Schools opens first urban school in August 2010 in Midtown Atlanta. The school’s opening marks a significant strategy shift for the Atlanta-based company as it seeks to expand its national footprint.
AdvancED names Jo Kirchner, president and CEO of Primrose Schools, the AdvancED Excellence in Education Award Winner for accredited corporations. Jo is recognized for her leadership and contributions in promoting and advancing excellence in education, especially in serving young children. She is selected from candidates from across the United States and overseas.
2011
Primrose Schools operates more than 220 schools in 15 states in 30 U.S. markets.
Jo Kirchner named regional winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the service category for her visionary leadership in educational child care. The award is renowned in the business community as the world’s most prestigious award for entrepreneurs.
Primrose Schools launches its Satisfaction Guarantee initiative, becoming the first and only child care services company in America to offer a Satisfaction Guarantee. This initiative was a key part in our company’s strategic plan to build trusted relationships with both current and prospective parents.
Primrose surpasses its 2011 goal to award 35 schools with its 36th franchise award--the most awards in the history of our company. The 36th award was the first Primrose franchise in the California market.
Primrose forms partnership with The Music Class® to create a unique Rhythm & Notes® music program that teaches children to understand, appreciate and make music by immersing them in the language and joy of music at school and at home.
The Primrose real estate team achieves its projection of 27 approved, new school sites submitted for 2011—another company milestone.
Primrose system revenues reach $342 million, up 10 percent from 2010.
2012
Primrose Schools operates more than 240 schools in 17 states in 30 U.S. markets.
Primrose Schools marks its 30th anniversary.