Enrollment, Reimagined

Bringing 20+ Years of Research to Schools

Avela was founded to solve one of the most persistent challenges in education: making enrollment easier, fairer, and more accessible for families and schools alike.

For two decades, our team has led research on how students are assigned to schools, how families navigate choice, and how enrollment systems can be designed for equity. Our work has influenced major school districts across the country, informed Nobel Prize-winning economic research, and shaped state and local education policies.

We launched Avela to turn proven research into practical, modern solutions that help families make informed decisions and help schools attract and enroll students seamlessly.

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Our Vision: The Future of School Enrollment

Today, we provide districts, charter networks, and early childhood programs with best-in-class enrollment software. But our long-term vision is bigger:

  • A One-Stop Shop for Families – A comprehensive family hub where parents can discover, apply to, and manage their child's education in one place.

  • A Seamless Experience – From early childhood through high school graduation, families will have a single, integrated platform to navigate school choices.

  • Personalized & Data-Driven – Families will receive customized recommendations, real-time notifications, and support throughout their child’s educational journey.

Avela is building the future of education access, ensuring that every family has the tools they need to make the best choice for their child.

A Timeline of Innovation

  • Parag Pathak starts working with Al Roth on school enrollment algorithms in NYC. This research lays the foundation for modern school choice systems.

  • Parag launches the Institute for Innovation in Public School Choice (IIPSC) and the Urban Education Leaders Network (UELN), working with school systems to improve enrollment.

  • Our team works with districts across the country, including in Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C., to optimize student assignment policies and improve access.

  • Al Roth wins the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on market design and matching theory, influencing how school enrollment systems are structured today.

  • MIT Blueprint Labs is launched, where Parag and Josh Angrist advise Smart Choice, SchoolMint, Great Schools, and other legacy systems on how to improve enrollment.

  • Parag wins the John Bates Clark Medal, one of the most prestigious honors in economics, for his contributions to education policy.

  • Recognizing the need for modern technology solutions, Josh, Parag, and Greg Bybee, an education technology entrepreneur, launch Avela to bring research-driven enrollment solutions to schools.

  • Josh wins the Nobel Prize in Economics, reinforcing the empirical foundation of our solutions. Avela Apply launches, helping districts and charters streamline admissions .

  • Avela expands its offering for districts, charters, and early childhood programs nationwide, making it easier for families to find and apply to schools and programs.

  • Avela continues to build towards our vision of being a platform for families to navigate their child’s educational journey and apply to schools and programs with a single click.

Who We Are Today

Avela is led by a team of experts in education, economics, and technology, committed to helping schools and families navigate enrollment with confidence.

Leadership Team:

  • Greg Bybee, CEO & Co-Founder – Social entrepreneur & technologist

  • Parag Pathak, Co-Founder – Clark Medalist & education policy expert

  • Josh Angrist, Co-Founder – Nobel Laureate & labor and education economist

We combine rigorous research with practical solutions, helping school leaders solve their most pressing enrollment challenges.

Congratulations to Joshua Angrist for winning the 2021 Nobel Prize in Economics!

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Careers

Please visit our careers page for a comprehensive list of our open roles, details on benefits, and more information for prospective colleagues.