The Spence School

What The Spence School does

The Spence School is a 134-year-old independent, non-profit K-12 all-girls private school operating from a multi-building campus on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Founded in 1892 by Clara Spence, the school serves approximately 804 students across three divisions: Lower School (K-4, 277 students), Middle School (grades 5-8, 242 students), and Upper School (grades 9-12, 285 students). The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees led by President William L. Jacob III, with Felicia Wilks serving as the 15th Head of School. The school operates four facilities: the 1929 flagship at 22 East 91st Street (Middle and Upper School, designed by John Russell Pope), the 2003 Lower School at 56 East 93rd Street, the 2021 412 Athletic and Educational Facility at 412 East 90th Street, and the Business Office at 74 East 91st Street. Academic offerings include 129 Upper School courses with 105 electives across 4 languages (Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish), supported by a 6:1 student-teacher ratio and 134 faculty members, 80% of whom hold advanced degrees with 20 median years of teaching experience.

The school's business model combines recurring tuition revenue with significant philanthropic support. Tuition is not publicly disclosed; 20% of students receive need-based aid funded by an $8.6M annual financial aid commitment. Annual Fund donations total $4.2M for 2024-2025 with 2,100+ donors (92% parent participation, 41% alumnae participation), and these gifts represent 19% of the operating budget. An endowment of 60+ named funds plus 250+ members of the 1892 Society for planned giving provide long-duration capital. Specialized programmatic offerings include the Independent Science Research fellowship (since 2006), Independent History Research fellowship, Eco Fellows, 92 student clubs and organizations, 38 athletic teams (the 'Sabers'), the 412 Squash Center with 9 courts, and the after-school Second Act program with 30 classes. The alumnae network of 4,374 graduates spans 47 states and 33 countries, reinforcing long-tail community engagement and a top-of-funnel admissions pipeline that drives demand for limited enrollment capacity.

Name

The Spence School

Legal name

The Spence School

Website

https://spenceschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Spence School is a 134-year-old independent, non-profit K-12 all-girls private school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, serving approximately 804 students across Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, supported by tuition and significant philanthropic giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM/STEAM-Focused Private K–12 Schools (EDAJABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts-Focused Private K–12 Schools (EDAJABAN)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• All-girls schooling
• College preparatory programs
• Independent school
• Primary secondary education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Private school tuition from enrolled students K-12. Tuition does not fully cover the cost of educating each student.
2. Annual Fund: Annual fundraising from parents (92% participation), alumnae (41% participation), grandparents, faculty, staff and friends. Raised $4.2 million for 2024-2025. Makes up 19% of operating budget.
3. Endowment: 60+ named endowment funds supporting financial aid, faculty professional development, arts, athletics, science, math, literacy and ecology. Over 250 members of the 1892 Society for planned giving.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable trusts, retirement plan designations, and life insurance beneficiary gifts through the 1892 Society.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Spence School provides all-girls K-12 private education across three divisions (Lower School K-4, Middle School 5-8, Upper School 9-12) on Manhattan's Upper East Side, serving approximately 804 students with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. The core offering is a college-preparatory academic program with 129 Upper School course offerings, four languages, athletics across 38 teams, and specialized fellowship programs in science, history, and ecology. Operations are funded primarily through tuition, supplemented by an Annual Fund ($4.2 million in 2024-2025), endowment income, and planned giving.

Product overview

The Spence School is a K-12 independent all-girls' private school in Manhattan offering a unified educational platform with three academic divisions: Lower School (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and Upper School (9-12). The school supplements its core academic programs with specialized fellowship programs including Independent Science Research (ISR), Independent History Research (IHR), and Eco Fellows, as well as an after-school Second Act program offering 30 classes, and a comprehensive athletics program featuring 38 teams. The school operates across three campus locations including the 412 Athletic and Educational Facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School (Kindergarten through Grade 4) An inquiry-based educational program for students in Kindergarten through Grade 4 featuring scaled classrooms, STEAM labs, art studios, dance studios, and outdoor terrace spaces designed for young learners.
• Middle School (Grades 5-8) A comprehensive academic program for students in Grades 5-8 covering English and World Literature, History, Mathematics, Science, Modern and Classical Languages, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Computer Science, Health Education, Ethics, and a Grade 8 Capstone Project.
• Upper School (Grades 9-12) A rigorous college-preparatory program for students in Grades 9-12 offering 129 course selections including 105 electives, four languages (Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish), and preparation for higher education at top universities.
• Independent Science Research (ISR) Fellowship A two-year research program where students identify, explore, and design their own curriculum focused on a scientific topic of interest, starting in Grade 10 or Grade 11.
• Independent History Research (IHR) Fellowship A two-year commitment beginning in junior year where fellows research a topic of their own choosing and produce an original work of scholarship based on secondary and archival primary source research.
• Eco Fellows Program A multi-year interdisciplinary environmental program training students as environmental leaders through knowledge of environmental science, political ecology, ecological movements, sustainable agriculture, and environmental justice.
• After-School Second Act Program An after-school program offering 30 classes including arts, athletics, academic enrichment, and creative pursuits for students seeking additional learning opportunities beyond the regular school day.
• Athletics Program A comprehensive athletics program featuring 38 teams under the Sabers mascot, with facilities including a 9-court 412 Squash Center, a 452-seat gymnasium, and teams competing in AAIS and NYSAIS championships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68 students graduated in Class of 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 412 Squash AssociationminorOthersThe 412 Squash Center, operated by the school, has an associated 412 Squash Association for squash programs and community engagement. The facility includes nine state-of-the-art courts.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trinity School: Co-ed K-12 private school in Manhattan's Upper West Side, founded 1709. One of NYC's most prestigious schools, competing with Spence for the same top-tier NYC families and college placement outcomes, despite the co-ed model.
• Riverdale Country School: K-12 co-ed private school in the Riverdale section of NYC, founded 1920. Comparable in size, rigorous college-prep mission, and competition for NYC's elite families; located outside Manhattan.
• Chapin School: All-girls K-12 private school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, founded 1901. Direct peer to Spence in single-gender model, academic rigor, and competition for the same elite NYC family demographic. Part of the elite NYC girls' school cluster.
• Friends Seminary: K-12 Quaker private school in downtown Manhattan, founded 1786. Comparable in size and NYC location, with a values-driven education mission. Religious-affiliated Quaker model differs from Spence's secular approach.
• The Dalton School: Co-ed K-12 private school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, known for progressive pedagogy and the 'House' system. Direct peer in size, location, and elite NYC family demographic despite its co-ed model.
• Horace Mann School: Co-ed K-12 private school in the Riverdale section of NYC, founded 1887. Comparable in prestige, rigorous college-prep mission, and NYC elite family demographic, though located outside Manhattan proper.
• Fieldston School: K-12 private school in the Riverdale section of NYC, part of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School complex. Comparable in progressive mission, NYC elite family demographic, and commitment to ethical education; co-ed model.
• The Brearley School: All-girls K-12 private school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, founded 1884. The most direct peer to Spence, often cited alongside it as one of NYC's two most elite girls' schools. Comparable in prestige, college-prep mission, and target demographic of NYC's wealthiest families.
• Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School: K-12 private school on Manhattan's Upper West Side, founded 1764. Comparable in size, college-prep mission, and target NYC families; co-ed model differs from Spence's single-gender approach but draws from the same applicant pool.
• Nightingale-Bamford School: All-girls K-12 private school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, founded 1920. Closest direct peer in the elite NYC girls' school cluster, comparable in size, mission, price point, and historic founding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user12125868
• Facebookfacebook.com/spenceschoolnyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/thespenceschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Spence School