Company: Stride, Inc., Reston, VA
Company Description: Stride Inc. is redefining lifelong learning with innovative, high-quality education solutions. Serving learners in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings, Stride provides a wide range of services including K-12 education, career learning, professional skills training, and talent development. Stride reaches learners in all 50 states and over 100 countries.
Nomination Category: New Product & Service Categories - Education
Nomination Sub Category: Game-based Curriculum Solution
 Nomination Title: Stride Inc.'s K12 Skills Arcade
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated new or new-version product or service, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: If this is a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If this is a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released:
K12 Skills Arcade is an adaptive learning platform for preschool to 12th-grade students. The platform motivates students to master difficult math, language arts, reading, history, and science concepts through engaging, rewards-based games.
K12 Skills Arcade’s most recent release was an enhancement in mid-January 2025. Our K12 team is constantly improving the product and releasing enhancements every month. The most recent update highlights include empowering students to earn Skills Arcade coins by practicing content questions in MathBee and ELA Village games and enhancing the School Summary report experience so that school admins can track in-depth classroom quiz performance and usage data.
K12 Skills Arcade is part of the Stride, Inc portfolio. For over 25 years, Stride has provided comprehensive online learning solutions, spanning K-12 education, career training, and professional development. K12 Skills Arcade expands this mission by offering engaging skill-building experiences that support student success.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 350 words):
Total 299 words used.
K12 Skills Arcade is a dynamic, gamified learning platform that reinforces K-12 academic skills through engaging, standards-aligned content. Built to support both Common Core and individual state standards, the platform offers interactive learning experiences through gamified questions, video lessons, and printable resources.
Students earn coins by correctly answering skill-based questions, creating a built-in incentive for active participation. Coins can be used to access over 45 different games, ranging from logic puzzles and math fluency challenges to immersive ELA adventures. By integrating adaptive learning technology, K12 Skills Arcade ensures that each student receives content tailored to their skill level—fostering confidence and progress at an optimal pace. Unlike static, one-size-fits-all platforms, K12 Skills Arcade dynamically adjusts to student performance, promoting deeper engagement and sustained motivation.
Among its standout games, MathBee, winner of the 2024 Bronze Stevie Award, offers 50 progressively challenging levels designed to strengthen math fluency, including place value, computation, and problem-solving skills. The newest ELA adventure game, ELA Village, immerses students in interactive storytelling, helping them develop critical reading comprehension skills in an engaging, game-based format. K12 Skills Arcade embeds rewards within gameplay to further encourage skill mastery, allowing students to earn star points and achievement badges.
For educators, K12 Skills Arcade provides powerful tools to enhance instruction. Live, gamified quizzes engage entire classrooms with bonus chests and coin incentives, while detailed performance reports help teachers assign targeted practice based on student needs. The coin manager, student shop, and classroom contests let teachers personalize rewards and create a motivating learning environment. Educators can award extra coins for participation, add fun prizes, and organize friendly competitions to drive engagement and mastery.
By combining adaptive learning, game-based motivation, and teacher-driven customization, K12 Skills Arcade transforms traditional practice into an exciting, personalized learning journey—empowering students to build essential skills while having fun.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 350 words):
Total 350 words used.
With K12 Skills Arcade’s real-time data, district leaders and teachers can deliver individualized learning, remediation, and enrichment at scale with personalized practice sessions tailored to students' needs.
“Skills Arcade pushes high-performing and low-performing students. They enjoy the games and the challenge of bettering themselves without the typical stress they feel around state testing.” - Justin Burns, Principal, Leeds City Schools
“K12 Skills Arcade has become an integral part of our daily learning program because it’s making that big of a difference in our students’ learning outcomes.” - Barry Wood, Principal (Former), Brewton Elementary School
“Prior to making this change, all but four of my 18 students were working below grade level. Within the first two weeks of making this change, over half of the class was working at grade level.” - Sherri Bedrosian, 1st Grade Teacher (Former), Hunt Elementary School
A study by The Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools found that K12 Skills Arcade is most effective when used daily for at least 15 minutes. Additionally, an independent study examining CLAS’s use of Stride’s Supplemental Program on ACT Aspire test scores in Alabama yielded the following results:
- Students using K12 Skills Arcade demonstrated a 15% improvement in math benchmark pass rates, significantly outpacing their demographically matched peers, who improved by only 8%.
- In reading benchmarks, K12 Skills Arcade students saw a 10% increase, while their peers showed no statistically significant change.
- Among economically disadvantaged K12 Skills Arcade students, math pass rates improved by 23%, whereas their peers experienced no significant change.
- Special Education students using K12 Skills Arcade improved their reading benchmark pass rates by an impressive 57%, compared to a 33% improvement among their matched peers. The impressive gains in student achievement highlight the effectiveness of K12 Skills Arcade and the importance of personalized learning (Henry & Carpenter, 2017).
According to efficacy research from February 2024, engagement in K12 Skills Arcade is positively associated with reading growth for elementary school students. Time spent answering questions in K12 Skills Arcade is positively related to both ELA course quiz outcomes and reading growth at the elementary level.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
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