What The Waverly School does

The Waverly School is a progressive, non-sectarian, college-preparatory independent day school serving approximately 360 students from preschool through 12th grade across three Pasadena, California campuses (Elementary at 67 West Bellevue Drive, Middle School at 120 Waverly Drive, High School at 108 Waverly Drive) plus a one-acre organic farm at 665 South Pasadena Avenue. Founded in 1993 and accredited by WASC and CAIS, the school operates with a 501(c)(3) non-profit structure and small student-teacher ratios of 8:1 to 12:1, delivering a developmental, cross-disciplinary curriculum that integrates social-emotional learning (Responsive Classroom), arts, athletics, college counseling, and farm-based outdoor education. Approximately 44% of students participate in the Flexible Tuition program using the Clarity Application, and 54% of families identify as families of color.

The school's products span a Preschool Program (24 students, ages 3.6-5), Elementary School (K-6 in dual-grade configurations), Middle School (7-8 with five core educators teaching multiple subjects), and High School (9-12 with UC-approved and Honors courses). Supporting offerings include the Waverly Summer Session (animation, SAT prep, math enrichment, business and investment strategies), Waverly World of Wonder Summer Camp (K-6), an After-School Program (K-8), and comprehensive college counseling beginning in 10th grade. Technology is not a product surface: the stack is utilitarian and includes Blackbaud for parent portal and donations, PowerSchool Learning for classroom communication, MySchoolApp for admissions, Google Suite for collaboration, Magnus Health for health records, and Clarity for financial-need assessment.

Waverly's revenue model is tuition-driven — recurring subscription-style annual tuition covers "most but not all" of operating costs — augmented by philanthropic streams: the Waverly Fund annual giving campaign (average family gift ~$900), Waverly Parent Organization fundraising events (Literary Festival, Winter Faire, Jog-A-Thon, Spring Event), and special-purpose funds such as the 2025 Eaton Fire Disaster Relief Fund. Distribution is purely direct: families engage through a rolling admissions process involving inquiry forms, campus tours, open houses, parent interviews, and student visits, with no third-party or intermediated channels.

Name

The Waverly School

Legal name

The Waverly School

Website

https://thewaverlyschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Waverly School is a progressive, non-sectarian independent day school in Pasadena, California, serving approximately 360 students from preschool through 12th grade across three campuses and a one-acre organic farm, with tuition as the primary revenue stream and a Flexible Tuition program serving 44% of students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Progressive independent school
• College preparatory school
• Preschool through 12th grade
• Experiential learning education

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: As a private independent school, tuition is the primary revenue stream, covering most but not all of the annual cost of educating students. The school offers a Flexible Tuition program based on demonstrated financial need.
2. Waverly Fund (Annual Giving): The Waverly Fund is the school's annual fund campaign conducted each year to support operating costs. It is the school's single most important fundraiser. The campaign begins with the school year and ends with the fiscal year on June 30. The average gift from families was about $900.
3. Waverly Parent Organization (WPO) Events: WPO events including the Literary Festival, Winter Faire, Jog-A-Thon, and Spring Event provide opportunities for community gathering while also raising funds for the school.
4. Disaster Relief Fund: Special purpose fund established to address community needs such as the Eaton Fire disaster relief, providing meals, health products, technology, childcare, and tuition assistance to displaced families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Waverly School provides a progressive, experience-based, cross-disciplinary education from Preschool through Grade 12 in Pasadena, California. Core offerings are the four academic divisions (Preschool, Elementary K-6, Middle 7-8, High 9-12) supplemented by the Waverly Organic Farm outdoor classroom, Arts, Athletics, College Counseling, Summer Programs, and After-School Care. The school is accredited by WASC and CAIS and operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Product overview

The Waverly School is a progressive independent day school offering a unified educational program from preschool through 12th grade. The core academic programs include the Preschool Program (ages 3.6 to 5 years), Elementary School Program (K-6), Middle School Program (7th-8th), and High School Program (9th-12th). These are supplemented by specialized programs including the Waverly Organic Farm (one-acre outdoor classroom), Arts Program (visual arts, music, drama), and Athletics Program. The school also offers summer programming through Waverly Summer Session and Waverly World of Wonder Summer Camp, after-school care for all levels, college counseling, and a Flexible Tuition Program serving 44% of students. Supporting programs include The Waverly Fund annual giving and the Waverly Disaster Relief Fund. The school uses technology platforms including PowerSchool Learning for communication, Blackbaud for donations, and Clarity for tuition applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Experiential learning program for children aged 3.5 to 5 years focused on play, social-emotional growth, and developmental appropriateness, with about half of the day spent outdoors. Limited to 24 students with a director and three full-time teachers.
• Elementary School Program Kindergarten through 6th grade program with interdisciplinary curriculum built around social studies themes, dual-grade classrooms (1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th), average class size of 24-25 students, and 12:1 student-teacher ratio.
• Middle School Program 7th and 8th grade program with five core educators teaching multiple subjects, integrated American and world themes, intensive hands-on science curriculum, Spanish language instruction (8th grade earns high school credit), and an advisory program. Student-teacher ratio of 11:1 with approximately 60 students.
• High School Program College preparatory program for grades 9-12 with UC-approved courses including Honors options, narrative assessment, Senior Projects, rotating block schedule, and college counseling beginning in 10th grade. Minimum graduation requirements exceed UC entrance requirements.
• Waverly Organic Farm One-acre outdoor classroom at 665 South Pasadena Avenue providing hands-on learning opportunities for all grade levels including planting, weeding, composting, and chicken care, with weekly visits for preschool through elementary.
• Arts Program Visual and performing arts program across all campuses including visual arts, vocal and instrumental music (guitar, keyboard, violin, percussion), drama, and performance opportunities, with the music program focusing on contemporary pop and rock styles.
• Athletics Program Competitive sports program for grades 5-12 with Middle School competing in the Arroyo and Foothill Leagues (flag football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, soccer) and High School competing in the CIF-affiliated International League (cross-country, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, track).
• College Counseling Comprehensive college counseling program including PSAT testing in 10th and 11th grade, weekly counselor meetings from 11th grade, college information nights, application guidance, and financial aid support.
• Flexible Tuition Program Tuition assistance program based on demonstrated financial need, serving approximately 44% of the student body. Uses Clarity Application to assess family income, expenses, assets, and debts.
• The Waverly Fund (Annual Giving) Annual fundraising campaign supporting operating costs including educational programs, faculty compensation, professional development, arts, technology, and financial assistance, with the average family gift at approximately $900.
• Waverly Summer Session Summer enrichment program from June 15 through August 7 offering animation workshops (grades 1-12), SAT preparation, math enrichment, business and investment strategies, Summer Discovery, and Summer Bridge for new high school students, with unit pricing such as $600 per SAT subject and $530 for Summer Discovery.
• Waverly World of Wonder Summer Camp Eight-week summer camp for kindergarten through 6th grade (also open to non-Waverly students) with weekly themes such as Story Makers, Space Explorers, and Engineering Lab, plus a Counselor in Training program for 7th-8th graders. Camp hours 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• After-School Program (K-8) After-school care for kindergarten through 8th grade on the elementary campus, running Monday through Friday until 6:00 p.m., offering sports, games, art, and other activities at $35 per day per camper with a $1 per minute late fee after 6:00 p.m.
• Preschool Afterschool Program Outdoor afterschool program for preschoolers starting at 2:45 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., with time on the preschool yard and weekly visits to the farm for construction, water activities, gardening, and art exploration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimum graduation requirements exceed University of California entrance requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ClaritycoreTechnology or IntegrationClarity Application is used by Waverly to assess family financial need for the Flexible Tuition program. Families complete the Clarity application online which considers income, expenses, assets, and debts. The application is mobile-friendly and allows families to save progress and return.
• Art of LivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Art of Living to offer an Intuition Workshop for third through sixth-graders as part of the summer enrichment program. The Intuition Process is a transformative program designed to nurture natural intuitive abilities in children through breathwork, meditation, and subtle awareness practices.
• The AlliancecoreOthersWaverly is a member of The Alliance, an organization supporting independent schools in admission diversity initiatives.
• POCIS (People of Color in Independent Schools)coreOthersWaverly is a member of POCIS, an organization supporting professionals and students of color in independent schools.
• A Better ChancecoreOthersWaverly is a member of A Better Chance, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented minority students succeeding in college preparatory education.
• California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)minorOthersHigh school athletic program competes in the International League, affiliated with CIF. Sports include cross-country, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and track.
• Foothill LeagueminorOthersMiddle school athletics compete in the Foothill League. Sports include flag football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and tennis.
• Arroyo LeagueminorOthersMiddle school athletics compete in the Arroyo League with flag football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and soccer.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Polytechnic School: Independent K-12 day school in Pasadena serving roughly 850 students. Directly competes with Waverly for the same Pasadena progressive-oriented families and overlaps heavily in admissions pipeline and tuition positioning.
• Crossroads School: Independent K-12 progressive school in Santa Monica with a long-established experiential curriculum. Closest philosophical peer to Waverly within the broader Los Angeles market.
• Flintridge Prep: Independent 7-12 school in La Cañada Flintridge, ~10 miles from Pasadena. Competes directly with Waverly's middle and high school programs for progressive, college-focused Pasadena-area families.
• Chandler School: Independent K-8 school in Pasadena with an experiential, progressive philosophy. Strongest direct overlap with Waverly's preschool and elementary programs on the west side of Pasadena.
• Marlborough School: Independent girls' school in Los Angeles serving grades 7-12. Competes with Waverly's middle and high school for college-prep-focused Los Angeles families willing to travel from Pasadena.
• Westridge School: Independent girls' school in Pasadena serving grades 4-12. Competes directly with Waverly for Pasadena families prioritizing college-prep outcomes in a small, mission-driven environment.
• Campbell Hall: Independent K-12 progressive day school in Studio City serving ~1,100 students. Comparable progressive-pedagogy, similar Flexible Tuition program, and competing for the same broader Los Angeles private-school market.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard-Westlake School: One of the largest and most prestigious independent K-12 schools in Los Angeles. Represents the upper-bound scale competitor whose program breadth and college placement set the aspirational benchmark for progressive Pasadena schools like Waverly.
• Brentwood School: Large, established independent K-12 school in West Los Angeles. Provides broader program breadth (athletics, arts, AP) that smaller schools like Waverly cannot match, raising the competitive bar for high school families.

Regional players

• The Webb Schools: Independent boarding and day school (grades 9-12) in Claremont, CA. Regional Southern California competitor for college-prep-oriented high school students; less direct overlap due to boarding model and distance from Pasadena.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheWaverlyschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/thewaverlyschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/188632974535285

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Waverly School