Wakefield School

What Wakefield School does

Wakefield School is an independent, college-preparatory day school serving Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 from a single hilltop campus at 4439 Old Tavern Road in The Plains, Virginia. Founded in 1996, the school operates across three divisions — Lower School (JK-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12) — with a stated 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 15:1 average class size, supported by 75 faculty and staff of whom 15% hold doctorates and 35% hold master's degrees. The curriculum emphasizes a liberal arts tradition built on the mission pillars of Character, Curiosity, and Clear Voices, supplemented by Visual Arts, Performing Arts (centered on the George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Theater), a 15-varsity-sport Athletics program with a no-cut philosophy, an Academic Resource Center, and College Counseling that begins in 8th grade.

The school monetizes primarily through annual recurring tuition subscriptions spanning $22,000 (JK) to $37,500 (Grades 9-12) for domestic students and $44,000-$47,500 plus a $5,000 non-refundable deposit for international students in Grades 6-12. Auxiliary revenue streams include bus transportation across nine Northern Virginia counties, summer programs open to public registration, and annual auction-based fundraising. Financial aid is extended to 38% of families via the Clarity platform, with additional merit scholarships (Archwood, Finish Strong, Virtus et Sapientia, Duncan and Adair Shanks). Operationally, Wakefield relies on third-party SaaS platforms — Veracross for admissions and the parent/student portal, Clarity for financial aid, OneCause for fundraising events, HiSawyer for summer registration, and Vidyard for video — with no public or partner-facing API.

Customer acquisition follows a sales-led, event-driven GTM motion: prospective families enter through the Veracross pre-application portal, progress through a multi-step admissions process (essays, teacher recommendations, parent interview with the Head of School, and student shadow day or assessment), and are nurtured via scheduled Fall and Winter Open Houses and private campus tours. The school draws families from Prince William, Fauquier, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties, supported by Board of Trustees governance and a growing international student program. There is no indication of venture capital, private equity, or public ownership; governance rests with the Board of Trustees and Head of School Ashley Harper.

Name

Wakefield School

Legal name

Wakefield School

Website

https://wakefieldschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wakefield School is an independent JK-12 college-preparatory day school in The Plains, Virginia, serving Northern Virginia families with a liberal arts curriculum, no-cut athletics, and college counseling beginning in 8th grade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping (State/National) (EDAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Private day school
• College preparatory education
• Liberal arts curriculum
• Student transportation services
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

The Plains

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Domestic Students: Annual tuition for domestic students across grade levels from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. Tuition varies by division with higher rates for Upper School.
2. Tuition - International Students: Higher annual tuition for international students including costs for transportation, textbooks, uniforms, and field trips. Grades 6-8 at $44,000 and Grades 9-12 at $47,500, plus $5,000 non-refundable deposit.
3. Bus Transportation: Optional bus service to/from multiple surrounding counties including Purcellville, Middleburg, Warrenton, Centreville, Leesburg, Piedmont, Haymarket, Gainesville, and Aldie with additional fees.
4. Summer Programs: Revenue from summer camps and programs open to current and non-current students aged 4 through rising 12th graders. Programs include academic courses for credit, enrichment classes, tutoring, and day camps.
5. Annual Auction Fundraiser: Premier fundraising event with sponsorships, auction items, and donations supporting financial aid, academic programs, arts, athletics, and experiential learning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Wakefield School delivers a JK-12 liberal arts college-preparatory curriculum structured across Lower School (Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade), Middle School (6th-8th grade), and Upper School (9th-12th grade), with character, intellectual curiosity, and clear communication at its core. The core academic program is bundled with supplementary Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Athletics programs, College Counseling starting in 8th grade, an Academic Resource Center, a Summer Programs offering, an International Student Program, optional bus transportation, and merit- and need-based scholarships. Instruction is delivered exclusively on the school's hilltop campus in The Plains, Virginia, with annual tuition serving as the primary unit of sale.

Product overview

Wakefield School is an independent JK-12 college-preparatory day school offering a unified liberal arts education structured across three divisions: Lower School (Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade), Middle School (6th-8th grade), and Upper School (9th-12th grade). The core academic program is supplemented by specialized programs including Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Athletics, along with support services such as the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and College Counseling. The school also offers auxiliary programs including Summer Programs, an International Student Program, transportation services, and various scholarship opportunities. All programs are integrated under the school's mission to foster character, curiosity, and clear voices in students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Wakefield Education JK-12 liberal arts college-preparatory curriculum spanning Lower School (Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade), Middle School (6th-8th grade), and Upper School (9th-12th grade), emphasizing character development, intellectual curiosity, and clear communication skills.
• Athletics Program Athletic program with 15 varsity sports across fall, winter, and spring seasons including volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, equestrian, basketball, swimming, squash, lacrosse, and golf, supported by a no-cut participation philosophy.
• Performing Arts Program Performing arts program covering Music, Theater productions, and Technical Theater, utilizing the George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Theater for student performances.
• Visual Arts Program Visual arts program covering Studio Art, Photography, and Digital Art, designed to foster creativity and artistic expression across grade levels.
• Academic Resource Center Academic support service providing executive function instruction, small group tutoring, personalized academic plans, and accommodation plans for students with documented learning needs.
• College Counseling Student-centered college preparation program beginning in 8th grade, including individual talent assessment, application support, personal essay guidance, campus visits, and a junior class college tour.
• Summer Programs Summer programming including day camps, academic courses for credit, enrichment and bridgework classes, and tutoring for students ages 4 through rising 12th graders, offered both on-campus and via live virtual sessions.
• International Student Program Program for international students in grades 6-12, including English language support via virtual assessments, visa process guidance, and dedicated tuition inclusive of transportation, textbooks, uniforms, and field trips.
• Scholarships and Grants Merit and need-based scholarship programs including the Archwood Scholarship (25% tuition for rising 9th graders), Finish Strong Scholarship (up to $10,000 for grades 10-11), Virtus et Sapientia Grants ($500 for current students in athletics, arts, or community service), and the Duncan and Adair Shanks Scholarship ($2,500 for ARC students involved in athletics and arts).
• Transportation Services Bus service covering nine surrounding counties including Purcellville, Middleburg, Warrenton, Centreville, Leesburg, Piedmont, Haymarket, Gainesville, and Aldie, with five designated routes and a late bus for after-school activities to Dominion Valley.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.8M in college scholarships awarded to Class of 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grace Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Health and Wellness Program enabling student involvement in wood, garden, and food bank ministries (Peas and Grace), plus Meet In The Middle program bridging younger and older generations.
• Fauquier FishminorOthersFood bank organization where Wakefield Interact Club members packaged over 500 bags of food for families in need as part of community service initiatives.
• Middleburg Humane FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal shelter where Wakefield students volunteer regularly, helping connect shelter animals with loving homes. Students contributed to three adoptions including Tika, a diabetic dog who had been one of the shelter's longest residents.
• Middleburg Humane Animal Foundation and Keeper's Haven Animal SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal sanctuaries with established partnerships where students regularly volunteer their time to care for animals in residence, providing deep fulfillment and mental health benefits.
• Hope & Serenity Animal Farm SanctuaryminorOthersFifth graders organized a school-wide bake sale donating $3,510.26 to help fundraise for hay to feed animals over winter months.
• Bee SquashminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership supporting Wakefield's squash program under new head coach Henry Beach following championship year and graduation of most varsity roster.
• Atypical LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tutoring company partnered with Wakefield to provide high-quality, on-campus academic tutoring for students from age 4 through 12th grade.
• Vint HillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tutoring company partnered with Wakefield to provide on-campus academic tutoring services for students from age 4 through 12th grade.
• Virginia State TrooperscoreOthersGuided Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Camp participants through physical fitness training, leadership development, water survival instruction, defensive driving exercises, and firearms safety and marksmanship training at Virginia War Memorial.
• Virginia War MemorialminorOthersEducational experiences at Virginia War Memorial as part of Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Camp program.
• Haymarket Rotary ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors Wakefield's Interact Club, enabling students to participate in community service programs including food packaging for Fauquier Fish.
• Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)minorOthersMember organization supporting independent schools in Virginia.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorOthersNational membership organization for independent schools.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Flint Hill School: JK-12 independent day school in Oakton, VA — the most directly comparable Northern Virginia peer, with similar tuition levels, college-prep mission, and a comparable student-athlete culture.
• The Potomac School: K-12 independent day school in McLean, VA serving affluent Northern Virginia families with rigorous college-prep academics and strong athletics — directly competes for the same Wakefield customer base.
• Foxcroft School: Girls boarding/day school in Middleburg, VA, just miles from Wakefield — comparable college-prep liberal arts mission, equestrian and athletic programs, and overlapping Northern Virginia/Virginia hunt-country catchment.
• The Madeira School: Independent girls day/boarding school (grades 9-12) in McLean, VA — directly comparable on tuition band, college-prep outcomes, and Northern Virginia location.
• St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School: K-12 Episcopal independent day school in Alexandria, VA — comparable JK-12 structure, similar liberal arts college-prep curriculum, and overlapping NoVA/Washington feeder geography.

Broad incumbents

• Sidwell Friends School: Elite PK-12 Quaker day school in Washington, DC — draws from the same DMV affluent market, competes for top college outcomes, but with a longer history, larger endowment, and national brand.
• Georgetown Preparatory School: Jesuit 9-12 college-prep day school in North Bethesda, MD — comparable premium pricing, college outcomes, and DMV feeder market, with a longer institutional history.
• Episcopal High School: Boarding 9-12 college-prep school in Alexandria, VA — comparable Episcopal-affiliated college-prep mission, strong athletics, and overlapping NoVA/DC feeder geography.

Regional players

• Woodberry Forest School: All-boys boarding school (9-12) in Madison, VA — geographically proximate to Wakefield, comparable college-prep rigor and athletic prominence, but boarding-only and single-sex.
• Randolph-Macon Academy: Independent boarding/day school serving grades 6-12 in Middleburg/Front Royal, VA — close to Wakefield's Virginia hunt-country catchment with comparable college-prep mission and STEM/leadership programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wakefieldschool?feature=shared
• Facebookfacebook.com/WakefieldOwls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/wakefield-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/wakefieldschooltheplains

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 Wakefield School