Timely funding enabled Cartwheel to become the top provider of mental health services to U.S. school systems.
Teenage mental health has become a prominently reported issue in recent years. Included are the challenges school districts face because their staff are often the primary point of contact for students.
The CDC reports that in 2023, approximately 40% of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. While this is an improvement from 2021, it remains a high baseline.
On February 3, Cartwheel announced it is now America’s largest K–12 mental health provider, following nearly 300% year-over-year growth in district partnerships.
The company focuses on providing school-based referrals and year-round telehealth services. The platform is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant and offers district-level dashboards that report engagement, outcome, and return on investment. It provides rapid access to licensed clinicians through a school-centered intake process which is, coordinated with school staff to minimize administrative burden.
Cartwell addresses student mental health in 350 school districts in 15 states, meeting their growing mental health needs, long waitlists for care, and limited staff capacity. The company has also secured statewide partnerships with health and education agencies in Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia.
Cartwheel secured Series B financing led by A-Street, with participation from Citi Impact Fund, Britebound, and the American Heart Association. Menlo Ventures, General Catalyst, Reach Capital, and Able Partners again joined.
Emily McGinty and Mora Segal of A-Street cited Cartwheel’s collaborative model and outcomes data as key reasons for supporting the company’s next phase of growth.
Valuable Outcomes Tracked
Cartwheel emphasizes that outcomes are measured, linking mental health support to metrics already tracked by school districts.
The company reported progress in the following areas:
- 58% of students experienced full remission from anxiety—compared with a 33% “industry average” Cartwheel cited for traditional telehealth.,
- a 3x reduction in students with moderate to severe depression
- 62% reduction in absences per student (from 16 before care to 6 after care)
- 68% reduction in suspensions for students with prior disciplinary history
Cartwheel aims to demonstrate return on investment in terms of attendance and behavior, while providing clinical services reimbursed by insurance.
A district leader endorsed this operational approach. “Over the past two years, Cartwheel has become an indispensable partner in addressing student attendance, behavior, and mental health challenges,” said Dr. Alexander U. Ikejiaku of Peoria Public Schools in Illinois.
A model built around speed and coordination
Cartwheel offers a range of benefits to students through its evidence-based services. They include individual and family therapy, parent guidance, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management. Services are provided ,with extended hours including evenings, weekends, and school breaks.
Cartwheel’s operational advantage lies in the process between referral and ongoing care:
- Dedicated clinical program managers who consult with school staff on student cases, crisis response, and impact analysis
- Bilingual care coordinators who help families navigate scheduling and insurance logistics
- A reported 70% “referral-to-care conversion rate,” which Cartwheel says is more than double the industry average.
For districts, Cartwheel offers a faster transition from initial concern to student care, eliminating the need for families to seek external providers and the long wait times that come with them.
Senior Leaders Join the Company
Three senior appointments were made as part of its expansion include:
Sarah Turrin, formerly CPO at Color Health, Sam Bilow, previously at Rubicon Founders, including work with Imagine Pediatrics and Cadre Hospice, and Sarah Shoff, an edtech operator who spent seven years at Udemy.
The Future
The company has made significant strides since its founding in 2022 by CEO Joe English, Dr. Juliana Chen (Chief Medical Officer), and Daniel Tartakovsky (Chief Operations Officer).
Prospects are high as investors see schools as a high-impact distribution channel for healthcare, with Cartwheel focusing on delivering quality and coordination at scale.
