HS2

What HS2 does

HS2 Academy is a private college consulting and test preparation company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Walnut, California. The company serves high school students and their families, primarily focused on securing admission to selective US universities including Ivy League institutions, Stanford, MIT, and other top-30 schools, with strong traction in the Asian-American community in California. Core offerings span College Counseling, SAT/ACT/AP test preparation, one-on-one subject tutoring, summer academic programs, and College Tuition Financial Aid planning, alongside an integrated "3-in-1 Program" bundling counseling, test prep, and tutoring.

The technology stack is centered on a web-based student portal (app.hs2academy.com) that provides course access, materials, and progress tracking, supported by a mobile-friendly website localized in English, Chinese (中文), and Korean (한국어). This multi-language layer enables outreach to overseas Asian families and international applicants, complementing the in-person counseling delivered at the Walnut headquarters. Marketing and customer acquisition rely on a YouTube webinar series, the HS2 blog, community seminars, and a strong referral pipeline from satisfied families.

The business model combines a multi-year subscription-style college counseling contract (typically 3-4 years from freshman year) with one-time test prep, tutoring, and summer program fees. GTM is sales-led and referral-driven, with direct counselor engagement and family consultations. Pricing is customized and not publicly disclosed, positioning HS2 Academy as a premium provider in the supplemental college consulting space. Operating since 2002 with no disclosed external funding, the company appears founder-owned and self-sustaining, with 101-250 employees.

Name

HS2

Legal name

HS2 Academy

Website

https://hs2academy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HS2 Academy is a private college consulting and test preparation firm founded in 2002 in Walnut, California, serving high school students seeking admission to elite US universities via multi-year counseling, SAT/ACT prep, tutoring, and financial aid planning, delivered in English, Chinese, and Korean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

College Admissions Consulting

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate (First-Year) Admissions Counseling (EDANAEAA)

Keywords

• College admissions counseling
• SAT test preparation
• ACT test preparation
• Academic tutoring services
• College application consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Walnut

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. College Counseling Services: Multi-year comprehensive college counseling programs, typically spanning 3-4 years from freshman/sophomore year through college admission. Services include academic planning, extracurricular guidance, essay development, interview preparation, and application support.
2. Test Preparation (SAT/ACT/AP): Standardized test preparation courses including SAT, ACT, PSAT, and AP exam prep. Includes bootcamp intensives and ongoing test-taking strategies.
3. Academic Tutoring: One-on-one subject tutoring for school coursework and academic subject mastery.
4. Summer Programs: Summer planning services and programs to help students build competitive profiles through internships, research opportunities, and enrichment activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HS2 Academy provides comprehensive college admissions counseling, standardized test preparation (SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP), one-on-one subject tutoring, and college application support for high school students seeking admission to selective US universities. Programs are typically multi-year engagements starting from freshman or sophomore year, integrating academic planning, extracurricular development, essay coaching, interview preparation, and financial aid planning under a single counseling relationship.

Product overview

HS2 Academy offers a comprehensive college counseling and test preparation platform designed to help students gain admission to top US universities. The core offerings consist of personalized college counseling services and standardized test preparation (SAT/ACT), supplemented by one-on-one subject tutoring, AP exam preparation, and summer programs. The company also provides financial aid planning and a bundled 3-in-1 program combining multiple services. Operating since 2002, the company positions itself as a pioneer in the college consulting industry with counselors who have prior experience as admissions officers and guidance counselors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College Counseling Personalized multi-year college application guidance including school selection, essay writing, activity planning, interview preparation, and application strategy tailored to each student's academic profile and goals. Designed for high school students and families navigating competitive US college admissions.
• SAT/ACT Test Preparation Standardized test preparation courses including SAT, ACT, and PSAT bootcamps designed to improve student scores through proven strategies, practice tests, and ongoing test-taking instruction. Targeted at high school students preparing for college entrance exams.
• One-on-One Subject Tutoring Expert one-on-one instruction in academic subjects tailored to each student's learning needs, covering school coursework and homework assistance for K-12 students.
• AP Classes Advanced Placement exam preparation courses for high school students seeking college credit through strong AP exam scores.
• Summer Programs Intensive summer sessions including academic enrichment, college preparation activities, internships, research opportunities, and enrichment programs for students in grades K-12.
• College Tuition Financial Aid Application and Planning Guidance on financial aid applications, scholarship opportunities, and college affordability planning for families navigating the cost of US higher education.
• 3-in-1 Program Comprehensive bundled program combining test prep, college counseling, and tutoring services into an integrated package for holistic college preparation over multiple years.
• Ability Battery Test Assessment service designed to identify student strengths and areas for improvement, used to guide personalized academic and college preparation planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students regularly admitted to Ivy League schools and top-30 universities including Princeton, UPenn, Cornell, Columbia, Duke, Stanford
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IvyWise: Premium college admissions counseling and test-prep firm offering multi-year comprehensive programs, essay coaching, and standardized test preparation to a similar high-achieving, often international and Asian-American, customer base.
• PrepScholar: Online-first SAT/ACT prep and college admissions program that competes with HS2's test-prep and counseling bundle via personalized digital coursework, directly targeting the same high-school student applicant pool.
• Empowerly: College admissions counseling company combining dedicated counselors with a data-driven matching platform, directly competing with HS2 in personalized multi-year admissions support.
• College Coach: College admissions consulting firm staffed largely by former admissions officers offering individualized counseling and application support — directly comparable talent model and service offering to HS2.
• Admissionado: Premium admissions consulting firm providing one-on-one counseling, essay editing, and interview prep for selective college applicants — closely aligned with HS2's high-touch, high-fee service model.
• Veritas Prep: Test prep and admissions counseling company founded by GMAT/SAT instructors, with a comparable mix of standardized test prep and college admissions consulting services targeting competitive applicants.
• Bell Curves: Test prep and admissions services company offering SAT/ACT courses, tutoring, and college counseling — a directly comparable boutique provider in the same premium services category.

Broad incumbents

• The Princeton Review: Large, established test-prep and admissions-counseling brand offering SAT/ACT/AP prep courses, tutoring, and college admissions services at scale — overlapping directly with HS2's core offerings but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Kaplan Test Prep: Major incumbent in standardized test preparation and admissions advising with online, in-person, and live course delivery, providing the same SAT/ACT/tutoring services as HS2 but at national scale and lower price points.

Others

• College Confidential: Largest online college admissions community and resource hub; not a direct service competitor but a key ecosystem player where HS2 families research schools, share outcomes, and generate referrals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/harvard-square-academy-299816120030854
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hs2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HS2