Cape Fear Academy

Name

Cape Fear Academy

Legal name

Cape Fear Academy

Website

https://capefearacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments across five grade bands. Tuition ranges from $19,300 for Lower School/K to $26,850 for Upper School (9th-12th). The school emphasizes that the cost of excellence exceeds even top tuition, with generous donations making up the difference.
2. Summer Programs: Revenue from summer camp programs open to all children ages 3+. Camps run for 8 weeks (June 1-July 31) with sessions starting at $185 per half-day. Full-day camps like surf programs cost up to $625. Extended care (Lunch Bunch) available for $25/week.
3. Application Fees: $80 application fee charged to all applicants as part of the admission process.
4. Capital Assessment Fee: One-time Capital Assessment Fee of $3,000 upon initial enrollment, paid over three years.
5. Learning Skills Program: Optional contracted tutoring services for students requiring additional academic support beyond standard tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cape Fear Academy is an independent, coed, college-preparatory day school that delivers academic instruction across three divisions—Lower School (PreK through 5th grade), Middle School (6th-8th), and Upper School (9th-12th)—alongside signature programs (AP Capstone, Engineering Certificate), Learning Skills support, College Counseling, Fine Arts, and Athletics. The school also operates an eight-week Summer Programs offering STEM, sports, arts, and enrichment camps open to children ages 3 and up regardless of school affiliation.

Product overview

Cape Fear Academy is a private independent school offering a unified college-preparatory educational experience from PreK (age 3+) through 12th grade. The school provides a comprehensive academic program organized into three divisions: Lower School (PreK-5th Grade), Middle School (6th-8th Grade), and Upper School (9th-12th Grade). Supporting the core academic curriculum are specialized programs including the Learning Skills Program for individualized support, College Counseling for post-secondary planning, AP Capstone Program for advanced research, and Engineering Certificate Program for STEM-focused students. The school also offers extensive extracurricular programs in Fine Arts (Band, Chorus, Theatre, Visual Arts, Publications) and Athletics (13 sports). Seasonal Summer Programs provide camps across STEM, sports, arts, and enrichment for children ages 3 and up. The school reports 100% college acceptance and maintains a 15-student average class size.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School Academic program serving PreK (age 3+) through 5th grade, featuring a well-rounded curriculum including arts, world languages, physical education, small class sizes (average 15 students), and integrated age-appropriate STEM learning from PreK onward.
• Middle School Academic program for grades 6-8 offering college-preparatory curriculum with daily Spanish instruction, accelerated math options, science and technology courses, advisory programs, and elective offerings in fine arts and STEM.
• Upper School Academic program for grades 9-12 providing college-preparatory education with AP courses, AP Capstone Diploma program, Engineering Certificate program, flexible scheduling, and comprehensive college counseling with 100% college acceptance rate.
• Summer Programs Eight-week seasonal camp program running June 1 through July 31, offering STEM camps, sports programs, arts and theater, culinary, academic enrichment, and general camps for children ages 3+ through grade 8, open to all children regardless of school affiliation.
• Learning Skills Program Optional contracted support program providing direct instruction in study skills, content support, goal-setting, and student advocacy with sessions available 1-4 times per week for Lower, Middle, and Upper School students requiring additional academic support beyond standard tuition.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college planning program providing 1:1 application support, test preparation resources, college exposure through admissions visits, and individualized advising, supporting a 100% college acceptance rate with 80% of students accepted at their first-choice school.
• Fine Arts Award-winning arts department offering Band, Chorus, Publications (yearbook and Category 5 magazine), Theatre, Visual Art, and Media Production with 100% Lower School and 60%+ Upper School student participation, supported by the Erin E. McNeill Fine Arts Center.
• Athletics Athletic program competing in the NCISAA 3A classification with 13 sports across Varsity, JV, and Middle School levels including Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming, Lacrosse, Sailing, and Track, with 25+ state championships since 1974.
• AP Capstone Program Two-year AP Seminar and AP Research course sequence designed to develop scholars' skills in analysis, evaluation, evidence-based argumentation, and research methodology, complementing AP courses and exams for Upper School students.
• Engineering Certificate Program Certificate program allowing students to earn an Engineering Certificate with their diploma by completing required courses with B or better, certificate electives, a semester-long research and design project, professional electronic journal, and experiential activities, leveraging the Science & Innovation Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate with 80% accepted at first choice schools
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sweetwater Surf SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sweetwater Surf School for CFA Adventure & Sweetwater Surf Camp programs. Students learn surfing fundamentals including paddling, catching waves, standing up, wave selection, turning techniques, surf etiquette, ocean awareness, and surf safety. Two-to-one student-instructor ratio in beginner camp. Surf camp runs as full-day option during summer programs.
• Soccer Shots Cape FearminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoccer Shots Cape Fear provides soccer camps at CFA focusing on soccer skills and character education at age-appropriate levels. Instructors are trained to work with children and adjust challenge as skills improve.
• National Center for Outdoor Adventure EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool administrators and faculty partner with NCOAE to plan and execute class trips including the 10th Grade Falls Lake Outdoor Adventure (camping and canoeing) and 11th Grade Junior Outdoor Expedition (hiking and camping in Pisgah National Forest).
• Mini MonetsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMini Monets, owned by Jennie M. Wenk (SCAD grad), provides fine arts camps including Clay and Sculpture, and Illustration and Animation programs during summer sessions.
• Music Bird StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic Bird Studios provides themed music camps including Disney-inspired programming and musical theater workshops during summer programs.
• North Carolina Independent Athletic Association (NCISAA)coreOthersNCISAA is the governing body of independent schools in North Carolina. CFA competes in the 3A classification and Coastal Plains Independent Conference (CPIC). Member of NCISAA since 1974 with 30 state championships captured.
• Coastal Plains Independent Conference (CPIC)coreOthersLeague of independent day schools in the Coastal Plains Region of North Carolina that are members of NCISAA 2A and 3A classifications. Member schools include Cape Fear Academy, Coastal Christian HS, Epiphany School, Greenfield School, John Paul II HS, Parrott Academy, Wayne Christian School, and Wayne Country Day School.
• Southeastern Middle School League (SMSL)minorOthersEight-school league for private schools in southeastern North Carolina founded in 2006. Provides middle school athletic competition framework.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cary Academy: Cary Academy is a North Carolina independent PreK-12 day school with a comparable college-prep, STEM-forward, small-class-size model that competes in the same broader NC independent school market segment as CFA.
• Ravenscroft School: Ravenscroft is a Raleigh-area NC independent PreK-12 college-prep school with comparable signature programs (STEM, fine arts, athletics) and similar tuition band, serving as a broader regional benchmark for an independent school at CFA's stage.
• Durham Academy: Durham Academy is a larger, well-established NC independent PreK-12 day school with a similar college-prep mission, AP Capstone program, and signature facilities, representing a scaled-up model of the same independent school archetype CFA operates.
• Charlotte Country Day School: Charlotte Country Day is a larger North Carolina independent PreK-12 college-prep school with signature programs in STEM, arts, and athletics and similar outcome-driven positioning to Cape Fear Academy.

Direct peers

• Wayne Country Day School: Wayne Country Day School is a Goldsboro, NC independent PreK-12 day school and CPIC conference peer, sharing the same athletic classification and regional family pool as CFA.
• Epiphany School: Epiphany School is a CPIC-member independent school in eastern North Carolina with a comparable PreK-12 college-prep model and similar regional family target market.
• Greenfield School: Greenfield School is a CPIC/NCISAA-member independent school in eastern NC operating a PreK-12 college-prep program, directly comparable in scope, mission, and athletic conference to Cape Fear Academy.
• Arendell Parrott Academy: Parrott Academy is a Kinston, NC-based independent PreK-12 day school and fellow CPIC member, competing head-to-head with CFA for southeastern NC independent school families.
• John Paul II Catholic High School: John Paul II Catholic HS is a CPIC conference peer located within driving distance of Wilmington, offering a faith-based college-prep high school program competing for the same regional families.
• Coastal Christian High School: Coastal Christian HS is a Wilmington-area private school and direct CPIC/NCISAA conference peer of Cape Fear Academy, serving a similar southeastern North Carolina family demographic with college-prep academics and athletics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapeFearAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cape-fear-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/capefearacademy
• Xx.com/CapeFearAcad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Cape Fear Academy