Big Blue Swim School Reaches New Growth Milestone with 60th Location

A major milestone is on the horizon for Big Blue Swim School as the brand celebrated the opening of its 60th location on November 2. The opening follows a year of expansion across the country, with new schools bringing Big Blue's swim education model to more communities and existing franchise owners growing their portfolios.

The brand’s 60th location also reflects how quickly the franchise has scaled in recent years. Since ending 2022 with 18 open schools, Big Blue has more than tripled its footprint in just a few years, supported by investments in its operating platform, technology and franchise support infrastructure.

A Year of Expansion Across the Country

Throughout 2026, Big Blue expanded its footprint with new schools in markets across Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia, with additional openings planned in Illinois.

Chicagoland is playing an important role in that expansion. Franchisee Rachael Roth, who already operates Big Blue schools in Naperville and Glendale Heights, is growing her portfolio with additional locations planned for Geneva and Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The Lincoln Park school, scheduled to open in November, will bring Big Blue's year-round swim education model to another Chicago community. Located in the Riverpoint Center shopping center, the school represents another step in Roth's multi-unit development with the brand.

Her expansion also reflects an important part of Big Blue's broader growth strategy: partnering with experienced operators who have the resources and leadership to build a presence across multiple communities.

Building Momentum for 2027

Big Blue's recent growth reflects its focus on expanding strategically with franchise owners who can develop a long-term presence in their markets. With new locations progressing through development, the brand is looking to build on its national footprint by identifying qualified operators and markets that support multi-unit growth.

With its 60th school open this month and additional locations progressing through development, Big Blue is preparing for 2027 with a focus on expanding alongside qualified operators who share its long-term approach to growth.

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Big Blue Swim School
Big Blue Swim School focuses on creating Big Moments for children ages six months to 12 years old. Learn More