Thomas Heyward Academy

What Thomas Heyward Academy does

Thomas Heyward Academy (THA) is a private, independent, college-preparatory day school founded in September 1970 in Ridgeland, South Carolina, and operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation (Thomas Heyward Academy, Inc.). The school serves students from early childhood through 12th grade across four divisions — Gateway (ages 1–3 early childhood), Lower School (K4–5th), Middle School (6th–8th), and Upper School (9th–12th) — and draws families from Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton counties in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Its core offering is a small-class-size (average of 20 in Upper School) college-preparatory curriculum complemented by AP courses, dual enrollment through the Technical College of the Lowcountry and USC Beaufort, over 20 athletic teams, and music and visual arts programs. The 27-acre campus includes a gymnasium, music center, stadium, and athletic fields. The school is accredited by SCISA and Cognia (formerly AdvancED) through June 2029, and was the first private school in South Carolina to earn AdvancED accreditation.

Operationally, the school runs on third-party education technology rather than proprietary systems: FACTS serves as the student information system for admissions, enrollment, and tuition billing; the website is powered by Finalsite; and additional integrations include ClassWallet (ESTF scholarship disbursement), GoFan (athletic ticketing), GiveSmart (fundraising), Renaissance Accelerated Reader, and SC Discus. There is no proprietary software, mobile app, or API.

The business model rests on multiple revenue streams. Tuition is the primary source, ranging from $6,000 (K4) to $7,500 (K5–12) annually, billed as monthly installments through FACTS or annual payment, and supplemented by registration, testing, building-fund, and athletic fees plus auxiliary programs (Rebel Overtime after-school care and SummerTime camp). A second pillar is philanthropy — the Annual Fund, Spring Gala, endowed gifts, and corporate sponsorships — consistent with its nonprofit status. A third and increasingly important stream is the South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF), which provides $7,500 per eligible student for 2025–26 and $7,634 for 2026–27 applied directly to tuition. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through an admissions office (campus tours, online FACTS applications) reinforced by strong community word-of-mouth, multi-generational family enrollment, and ESTF-driven inquiries.

Name

Thomas Heyward Academy

Legal name

Thomas Heyward Academy, Inc.

Website

https://thomasheyward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thomas Heyward Academy is a private, nonprofit K1–12 college-preparatory school founded in 1970 in Ridgeland, South Carolina, serving families across Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton counties with academics, athletics, arts, and early-childhood programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• College preparatory school
• Independent school tuition
• Dual enrollment program
• Early childhood learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Ridgeland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. Tuition ranges from $6,000 to $7,500 annually depending on grade level. Payment options include monthly installments through FACTS or annual payment by August 15th. The school offers need-based financial aid and accepts ESTF scholarships.
2. Registration and Fees: Application fees ($25), testing fees ($50), building fund fees ($350 for new K4-12 students), and registration fees ($150 new / $100 returning). Athletic fees range from $25-$100 per sport. Additional programs like Rebel Overtime (after-school care) and SummerTime (summer camp) generate supplementary revenue.
3. Annual Fund and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations through the Annual Fund, Spring Gala, endowed gifts, corporate sponsorships, IRA rollovers, and planned giving. The school is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dependent on charitable gifts to supplement tuition and fund enhancements.
4. ESTF State Funding: South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund provides $7,500 per student (2025-26) and $7,634 per student (2026-27) directly applied toward tuition for eligible families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thomas Heyward Academy is a private K1-12 college preparatory school delivering continuous education from early childhood (ages 12 months through 3 years) through 12th grade across four academic divisions on a 27-acre Ridgeland, SC campus. Core offerings include Gateway early childhood learning, Lower School (K4-5th), Middle School (6th-8th), Upper School (9th-12th) with AP courses and dual enrollment through Technical College of the Lowcountry and University of South Carolina Beaufort, 20+ athletic teams, music and visual arts programs sponsored by Mrs. G's Music Foundation, and Rebel Overtime and Summertime before/after-school and summer programs. The school is accredited through June 2029 by SCISA and Cognia.

Product overview

Thomas Heyward Academy is an accredited K1-12 college preparatory private school offering a comprehensive educational program. The institution operates as a unified school with distinct divisions: Gateway (K1-K3 early childhood), Lower School (K4-5th grade), Middle School (6th-8th grade), and Upper School (9th-12th grade). Beyond core academics, the school offers an extensive enrichment portfolio including music and visual arts programs (supported by Mrs. G's Music Foundation), over 20 athletic teams, college counseling with dual enrollment options, and before/after-school care through Rebel Overtime and Summertime programs. The school is accredited by SCISA and Cognia (formerly AdvancED) through June 2029.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gateway Early Childhood Learning Center

Quantifiable outcome

• 49% of upper school students dually enrolled in college courses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mrs. G's Music Foundation (Gretsch Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMrs. G's Music Foundation, established in 2010 by The Gretsch Company's Executive Vice President and CFO Dinah Gretsch, sponsors and supports the THA music program. The foundation funds music teachers, supports artist residencies, and supplies musical instruments to the school. Gretsch Company (manufacturing drums and guitars since 1883) has multiple family alumni from THA.
• Technical College of the LowcountrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership allowing upper school students to take college courses at TCL while still in high school. Part of the college preparatory program for grades 11-12.
• University of South Carolina BeaufortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership providing college course opportunities for upper school students seeking college credit while in high school.
• South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTH A is an accredited member of SCISA, the organization providing academic, athletic, and student-centered programs for independent schools in South Carolina. SCISA conducts accreditation reviews and organizes state athletics competitions.
• Cognia (formerly AdvancED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCognia provides accreditation through June 2029, conducting Accreditation Engagement Reviews every five years to evaluate educational quality and guideline compliance. Thomas Heyward Academy was the first private school in SC to earn AdvancED accreditation.
• FACTS (SIS - Student Information System)coreTechnology or IntegrationFACTS provides the student information system for enrollment management, tuition billing, and family portal access. Families create accounts and submit applications through the FACTS platform.
• ClassWalletcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet provider for ESTF scholarship funds distribution, allowing families to make direct payments and purchases with scholarship funds for tuition and eligible educational expenses.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hilton Head Preparatory School: SCISA-accredited, K-12 college-preparatory independent school located in Hilton Head Island, SC, in the same SC Lowcountry market. Closely comparable on grade span, college-prep focus, dual-enrollment offerings, and reliance on tuition plus annual-fund philanthropy.
• Beaufort Academy: Private K3-12 independent school in Beaufort, SC, drawing from the same Beaufort/Jasper county family base as THA. Directly comparable on tuition range, college-prep mission, athletic programs, and SCISA affiliation.
• Pinewood Preparatory School: SCISA-accredited, K3-12 college-preparatory day school in Summerville, SC, with comparable tuition, athletics, arts, and dual-enrollment offerings. Same accreditation framework (Cognia/SCISA) and similar small-class-size positioning.
• Charleston Collegiate School: Independent college-preparatory school serving PreK-12 in Johns Island, SC. Directly comparable on grade span, college-prep mission, small class sizes, athletic and arts programs, and SCISA membership.
• Palmetto Christian Academy: Private K4-12 faith-rooted college-prep school in Mt. Pleasant, SC, with comparable tuition range, athletics, arts, and small class sizes. Competes for similar coastal SC families seeking independent school alternatives to public schools.
• John Paul II Catholic School: Catholic K-12 college-preparatory school in Hilton Head Island, SC, serving the same Lowcountry region. Comparable on grade span, college-prep mission, athletics, and small-school community positioning.
• Hammond School: SCISA-accredited, K-12 independent college-preparatory school in Columbia, SC. Comparable on tuition range, Cognia accreditation, dual-enrollment offerings, and broad athletic/arts programming, though in a larger metro market.
• Ashley Hall: SCISA-accredited, K4-12 independent college-preparatory school (girls in upper school) in Charleston, SC. Closely comparable on grade span, college-prep mission, dual-enrollment, and arts/athletics programming.

Regional players

• Savannah Country Day School: Independent PK-12 college-preparatory school in Savannah, GA, serving a neighboring Lowcountry market across the SC/GA border. Comparable on college-prep mission, athletic/arts programs, and small class sizes, with overlapping recruitment geography.

Others

• Finalsite: Vendor and ecosystem enabler powering thomasheyward.org. Included as an 'Others' adjacency because independent school CMS/communications platforms shape how peer private schools compete on digital marketing and family engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/THA_Athletics
• Facebookfacebook.com/thomasheywardacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/thomasheywardacademy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Thomas Heyward Academy