For the fourth consecutive year and fifth time overall, School of Rock was recently named to Franchise Business Review’s 2026 “Culture100” list. The list recognizes the top 100 franchise brands in its annual research on the Best Franchise Cultures.
At School of Rock, students don’t just learn music - they build confidence, creativity, teamwork, and real-world life skills. Our performance-based music education programs combine one-on-one lessons with group rehearsals, giving students the opportunity to learn guitar, drums, bass, keys, and vocals while preparing for live performances at real local venues. Designed for all ages and skill levels, School of Rock offers a supportive and social environment where homeschool students can express themselves creatively, build meaningful friendships, and gain self-confidence. We also offer seasonal music camps, songwriting programs, and beginner programs for younger students.
"Our culture isn't a campaign,
it's who we are."
School of Rock was among more than 330 franchise brands representing over 29,000 franchise owners that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research on the best franchise cultures. Franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems. The brands that were selected received the highest overall ratings based on 17 unique areas that contribute to a strong company culture, including leadership, core values, franchisee community, and engagement.
"At School of Rock, we've always believed that great culture starts with a genuine sense of belonging — when people feel seen, heard, and inspired, they show up differently for each other and for every student we serve," said School of Rock President Stacey Ryan. "Being recognized five times, four years running, tells me our culture isn't a campaign, it's who we are. That's something to be proud of, and something to protect as we grow."
Franchise Business Review, a research firm that conducts independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides the only ratings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of top franchises on its website, as well as industry reports throughout the year that highlight research on the top franchises in specific sectors.
"For anyone exploring franchise ownership, these are the brands worth knowing about first."
"Culture fit is one of the most critical, and most elusive, factors in a franchise investment decision," said Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review. "At Franchise Business Review, we survey thousands of current franchise owners to understand how they truly feel about the brand they've invested in. Our data measures the indicators that matter most to a thriving franchise culture: whether franchisees feel genuinely supported by their franchisor, and how effectively franchise teams and support staff collaborate to achieve shared goals. The brands recognized on this year's Culture100 list earned franchisee ratings that outpace the industry average by 20% to 50% across these key cultural dimensions. For anyone exploring franchise ownership, these are the brands worth knowing about first."
About School of Rock
School of Rock helps aspiring musicians master skills, unleash creativity, and develop the tools they need to thrive in life. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia, PA., in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 650 schools open or in development across 23 global markets and has grown its student count from 4,000 in 2009 to over 80,000 today. School of Rock offers a wide variety of music lessons, including guitar, singing, and piano. The company also sells musical instruments and music gear through its GearSelect program.
School of Rock was awarded US Patent 10,891,872 in 2021 for its innovative music education method. School of Rock is a proud supporter of Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), and the Play Without Limits Project, a Youth Enrichment Brands initiative that provides youth activity scholarships to kids in need.
School of Rock also has garnered the following industry awards in recent years: 2026 Global Franchise Grand Champion; 2026 Regional Champion – U.S.A. by Global Franchise Awards; 2026 and 2025 Best Children's Service & Education Franchise by Global Franchise Awards; seven consecutive years as Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Top Children's Music Enrichment Brand and ranked #1 in the Children's Enrichment Category in 2025 and 2026; International Franchise Association's 2025 and 2024 Franchisee of the Year Awards; 2025 Franchise Business Review Top Franchise; 2024 Franchise Business Review Most Innovative Franchise; 2024 Top Recession-Proof Franchise by Franchise Business Review; 2024 Culture100 List by Franchise Business Review; 2024 Silver Award for Employee Satisfaction by Franchising@Work; 2024 Award Finalist by Franchising@Work; and 2021 Franchise Innovation Award for Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools.
About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and franchise employees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,500 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year online at http://www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com.