Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

What Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences does

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS) is a non-profit independent school serving 1,308 students in grades 6-12 across a unified one-block campus on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington, divided into a Middle School (442 students) and an Upper School (866 students). Founded in 1983 with 72 students at Temple De Hirsch, SAAS now operates 101-250 employees delivering an integrated academic, arts, athletics, and experiential program with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, median class sizes of 16-17, and a curriculum spanning 11 academic departments plus a required Innovations track that includes a mandatory "Foundations in Computational Thinking: AI and Ethics" Upper School course. Co-curricular requirements are unusually dense: 100% of students participate in arts, 78% participate in athletics (a no-cut policy), 120 hours of community service are required for graduation, and each senior completes a capstone Senior Project; the school claims 100% college admission rates supported by a six-member College Advising team.

The business model is tuition-driven recurring revenue: 2025-26 tuition is $50,900 and 2026-27 tuition is $52,940 for grades 6-12, set annually by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. Financial aid is need-based, with over 23% of families receiving grants ranging from $2,000 to full tuition and averaging roughly 70% coverage (average grant ~$38,058). Beyond tuition, SAAS monetizes auxiliary services including parking permits ($2,901-$3,336 for 2026-27), a lunch program operated by Sage Dining, transportation via A&A Limousine and Seattle Quik Tours, and a King County Metro SchoolPool partnership. The school supplements operating revenue with fundraising — the "All In for Build Bold" $60M capital campaign and the SAAS in the City 2026 event ($5.5M+ raised) support a recently opened five-story Upper School building (Fall 2025). Distribution is direct-to-family through a Ravenna-powered admissions funnel with open houses, campus tours, and virtual webinars; the school does not accept international students and offers no boarding or I-20 visa sponsorship, capping its addressable market to the Puget Sound region.

Name

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

Legal name

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

Website

https://seattleacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences is a non-profit independent school serving 1,308 students in grades 6-12 on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington, delivering an integrated academic, arts, athletics, and experiential curriculum with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio and 100% college admission outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for grades 6-12. Tuition set annually by Board of Trustees. Financial aid offered to 23% of families ranging from $2,000 to full tuition coverage.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences is a non-profit independent school delivering grades 6-12 college-preparatory education on a unified Capitol Hill campus in Seattle. Core offerings include a Middle School program (grades 6-8) and Upper School program (grades 9-12), a mandatory Arts program, a no-cut Athletics program, an Innovations department with required AI and Ethics coursework, College Advising, Senior Projects, and a need-based Financial Aid program.

Product overview

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent private school serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 1,308 students. The institution operates as a unified educational program combining Middle School and Upper School divisions with a comprehensive portfolio of academic, arts, athletics, and co-curricular offerings. Core products include rigorous academic programs across 11 departments, a mandatory arts program (Dance, Music, Theater, Visual & Media Arts), athletics with no-cut inclusive policies, Outdoor & Travel experiences, College Advising with 100% college admission rates, and specialized programs like the Innovations Department with AI & Ethics coursework, Student Academic Teams (robotics, debate, mock trial), and the annual SAAS Summit forum. The school is currently expanding with a new Upper School building opened Fall 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Foundational academic and co-curricular program for 442 students in grades 6-8 with courses in English, Math, Science, History, World Languages, Arts, Health, and Physical Education, plus robotics, debate, and student life activities. For families seeking an independent middle school experience.
• Upper School Program (Grades 9-12) College-preparatory academic program for 866 students in grades 9-12 offering advanced coursework across all disciplines with opportunities for acceleration, enrichment, and specialized focus. Supports 100% college admission rate.
• Arts Program Comprehensive Visual & Performing Arts program including Dance, Music (Band, String Ensemble, Vocal, Music Production), Theater (Acting, Technical Theater), and Visual & Media Arts (2D/3D/Digital Arts, Film, Photography). 100% of students participate as a graduation requirement.
• Athletics Program Inclusive no-cut athletic program offering team sports across three seasons with teams operating at both competitive and excellence levels. 78% of students participate.
• Outdoor & Travel Program Program providing opportunities for students to challenge themselves physically and emotionally, deepen relationships, and develop responsible understanding of cultures and environments through travel experiences and outdoor education.
• Innovations Department Department spanning Computational Thinking, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship & Design, including required AI and Ethics coursework, entrepreneurial leadership, web design, and interdisciplinary studies.
• College Advising Six-member college advising team providing comprehensive support across grades 9-12 and for alumni. 100% of graduates admitted to college annually, including selective institutions domestically and abroad.
• Senior Project Capstone project requirement where Upper School students put knowledge into action through real-world experience before graduation.
• Student Academic Teams Competitive academic teams including Debate, Ethics Bowl, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, Robotics (FIRST Robotics, Underwater Robotics, Combat Robotics, Aviation), Speech, and Youth Legislature.
• Community Service Program Service learning program requiring minimum 120 hours of community service before graduation, preparing students to be engaged, reflective contributors.
• Foundations in Computational Thinking: AI and Ethics

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college admission rate including selective institutions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• King County MetrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAAS partners with King County Metro for the SchoolPool carpool matching program, providing a private network exclusively for Seattle Academy families to connect for carpools, walking, biking, or light rail routes. The partnership also includes coordination for bus services and Youth Orca Card distribution for free transit.
• RavennacoreTechnology or IntegrationSAAS uses Ravenna for online applications, enabling families to apply, track status, and register for admissions events through the Ravenna Hub platform.
• School and Student Services (SSS)coreTechnology or IntegrationSAAS uses SSS (by Enrollment Validation Services) for need-based financial aid applications. Families submit Parent Financial Statements and tax documentation through the SSS portal using school code 7243.
• Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS)coreOthersSAAS is accredited by NWAIS, which provides accreditation standards and peer review for independent schools in the Pacific Northwest region.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreOthersSAAS is a member of NAIS, a national organization supporting independent schools through advocacy, research, and professional development.
• A&A Limousine and Seattle Quik ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAAS partners with A&A Limousine and Seattle Quik Tours for daily route buses and field trip transportation needs. These bus companies maintain all required licenses, registrations, insurance, and perform background checks on personnel.
• Sage DiningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAAS partners with Sage Dining for food services, providing lunch menus and meal programs for students.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lakeside School: Lakeside School is a leading Seattle independent school serving grades 5-12, located on a single campus. It is the most direct competitor to SAAS in the Seattle private school market, competing for the same college-prep families and overlapping in academic, arts, and athletics offerings.
• The Bush School: The Bush School is a Seattle independent school serving grades K-12 with a progressive, experiential curriculum. It competes with SAAS for college-prep families in the Capitol Hill/north Seattle corridor and emphasizes whole-child, inquiry-driven education.
• University Prep: University Prep is a Seattle independent school serving grades 6-12 with a strong college-prep focus and similar tuition band to SAAS. It directly competes for the same urban Seattle middle and upper school families and is often on the same shortlist of applicants.
• The Northwest School: The Northwest School is a downtown Seattle independent school serving grades 6-12 with an arts-integrated, progressive curriculum. It is among the closest direct competitors to SAAS given similar grade range, urban location, and emphasis on arts alongside rigorous academics.
• Seattle Preparatory School: Seattle Prep is a Catholic independent school serving grades 9-12 in Seattle with strong college-prep outcomes and competitive athletics. It competes with SAAS for college-bound families in the Seattle market, particularly for the Upper School division.

Regional players

• Eastside Preparatory School: Eastside Prep is a Kirkland, WA independent school serving grades 5-12 with a similar college-prep and inclusive ethos. It competes with SAAS for Eastside families willing to cross Lake Washington into Seattle, and is one of the closest non-Seattle-based alternatives.
• The Overlake School: Overlake is a Redmond, WA independent school serving grades 5-12 with a strong academic and arts profile. It is a regional competitor for Eastside families who might otherwise consider SAAS, particularly for its integrated arts and athletics programs.
• Catlin Gabel School: Catlin Gabel is a Portland, OR independent school serving grades PK-12 with a progressive, arts-integrated curriculum. While outside the Seattle metro, it is a Pacific Northwest independent school with a similar educational philosophy and college-prep orientation to SAAS.
• Charles Wright Academy: Charles Wright Academy is a Tacoma, WA independent school serving grades PK-12 with rigorous college-prep academics. It is a regional alternative for South Sound families who might otherwise consider SAAS in the broader Puget Sound independent school market.
• Bellevue Christian School: Bellevue Christian is a faith-based PK-12 independent school on the Eastside. While it competes in the broader Seattle private school market, its religious affiliation and broader grade span make it a partial rather than direct peer to SAAS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SeattleAcademyVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/seattleacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/seattle-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/seattleacademy
• Xx.com/SeattleAcademy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences