Nysmith School for the Gifted

What Nysmith School for the Gifted does

Nysmith School for the Gifted is a privately held, family-owned PreK-8 school founded in 1983 and operating from a single 75,000+ square foot campus at 13625 EDS Drive, Herndon, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It delivers differentiated STEM-forward education to academically advanced and gifted learners, with a documented ability for students to work up to four grade levels above current placement in core subjects — including simultaneous study of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, and Pre-calculus in the upper school. The program is structured around three core grade bands (PreK, K-3, and 4-8) with 18-student class caps, two teachers per class, a 1:9 student-to-teacher ratio, 45 minutes of daily hands-on science, CASEL-aligned social-emotional learning, and an AI literacy component in the upper grades.

The business is tuition-funded on an annual subscription basis, with 2025-26 pricing of $32,650 (Preschool), $42,700 (K-3), and $48,400 (4-8). Revenue mechanics are reinforced by rolling admissions, layered sibling discounts (20%/50%/free for 2nd/3rd/4th children), all-inclusive pricing that bundles textbooks, materials, and field trips, and a financial aid program covering approximately 25% of families at typical grants of 25-50% of tuition. Lead teacher compensation is reported above the 90th percentile, 64% of faculty have more than 10 years of teaching experience, and 52% have been at Nysmith for over 10 years.

Go-to-market is sales-led and community-driven: prospective families engage through campus tours, a rolling online application via the FS Enrollment platform, a Parent Ambassador referral program, and organic content marketing via NysBlog and social channels. The school carries accreditations from SACS CASI, NIPSA, and Advanced Ed, is COPPA-compliant, and was named one of the Top Ten Schools in the World by Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and Best Private School in the U.S. by Education Insider in 2026. No external venture or private equity funding has been raised.

Name

Nysmith School for the Gifted

Legal name

The Nysmith School

Website

https://nysmith.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nysmith School for the Gifted is a privately held, family-owned PreK-8 school in Herndon, Virginia, delivering differentiated STEM-forward education to gifted learners through small classes (18 students max, 1:9 teacher ratio) and tuition-based annual enrollment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Gifted Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Private K-8 education
• Gifted education programs
• Differentiated STEM curriculum
• After-school enrichment
• Private preschool programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Herndon

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments. Grade-based pricing with Preschool at $32,650, K-3 at $42,700, and 4-8 at $48,400. Flexible payment options include annual, semester, or monthly plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Nysmith School for the Gifted operates a private PreK through 8th-grade day school delivering differentiated, technology-integrated STEM curriculum on a single campus in Herndon, Virginia. The core academic offering is organized into three grade-level programs (Preschool Beginners & PreK, K-3, and 4-8) with small classes of up to 18 students and 1:9 student-to-teacher ratios, supplemented by 150+ after-school enrichment clubs and optional logistical services (bus, lunch, extended care). Tuition is charged annually with sibling discounts and need-based financial aid.

Product overview

Nysmith School for the Gifted is a private K-8 school offering a unified educational program structured around three core products: the Pre-K Program (Beginners & PreK) for ages 3-4, the K-3 Program with subject-specific teachers and differentiated instruction up to four grade levels above, and the 4-8 Program providing advanced academics and social-emotional development. These core programs are complemented by optional add-on services including 150+ after school clubs and enrichment programs (Robotics & STEM, Arts, Chess, Athletics), optional bus transportation, lunch program, and extended care. The school also maintains NysBlog as an educational resource for families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-K Program (Beginners & PreK) Preschool program (ages 3-4) delivering a diversified, enriched academic experience with fun, hands-on activities to build fine motor skills, social skills, and confidence in a loving and nurturing environment. Designed for families of young gifted or high-achieving children seeking structured early academics.
• K-3 Program Grades K-3 program where children change classes for each subject, enabling subject-specific teachers to deliver differentiated and advanced learning opportunities up to four grade levels above current placement. Designed for high-achieving and gifted learners in early elementary grades.
• 4-8 Program Grades 4-8 program providing advanced, high-level skills that nurture curious students academically and socially through thoughtfully diversified and enriched schoolwork. Includes differentiated math acceleration (e.g., simultaneous Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig, Pre-calculus), daily hands-on science, and CASEL-aligned social-emotional learning.
• After-School Clubs & Enrichment Programs Collection of 150+ clubs and enrichment programs offered after school, spanning Robotics & STEM, Arts & Creative, Strategy & Academics (including Chess), Community & Leadership, Athletics & Martial Arts, and Creative Arts & Performance. Sold as standalone after-school enrollment separate from core academic tuition.
• Optional Programs (Transportation, Lunch, Extended Care) Standalone optional support services including bus transportation, school lunch program, and extended care (A.M. Care 7:00-8:00 a.m., Transition Care 2:30-3:00 p.m., P.M. Care 3:00-6:30 p.m.) that families can purchase separately to support school-day logistics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students study multiple high school-level math courses simultaneously (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig, Pre-calc)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition)supportingOthersFAST provides confidential financial aid evaluation services for Nysmith families. Families apply for need-based financial aid through FAST's online application system, which Nysmith uses to review applications with care and context.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Langley School: Independent K-8 private school in McLean, VA serving gifted and advanced learners in the same Northern Virginia market as Nysmith, with comparable differentiated instruction and similar premium tuition positioning.
• National Cathedral School: Washington, DC independent girls' school serving grades 4-12 with rigorous academics and a similar premium-price, high-income family clientele in the same DC metro.
• Maret School: Independent K-12 school in Washington, DC emphasizing individualized learning and strong academics; serves a similar gifted/advanced learner segment with comparable tuition in the same regional market.
• Sidwell Friends School: Elite Washington, DC-area PK-12 Quaker school with rigorous academics and a similar high-income, family-driven admissions funnel; comparable premium brand positioning and tuition band.
• The Lab School of Washington: DC private school serving students with learning differences and gifted/advanced learners through individualized instruction; overlaps with Nysmith on differentiated pedagogy and DC-metro premium market.
• Flint Hill School: Independent PK-12 school in Oakton, VA, just minutes from Nysmith, serving advanced learners with differentiated instruction; one of the closest direct competitors geographically and pedagogically.
• The Bullis School: Independent K-12 school in Potomac, MD with strong STEM and experiential learning emphasis, comparable tuition, and similar affluent DC-metro customer base.
• Holton-Arms School: Independent K-12 girls' school in Bethesda, MD focused on intellectual curiosity and differentiated academics; operates in the same DC-metro premium private-school segment with comparable tuition scale.
• Georgetown Day School: DC-based progressive PK-12 private school with differentiated instruction and a similar mission of educating advanced/curious learners; operates in the same premium-price regional peer set.

Emerging players

• BASIS Independent Schools: Network of premium TK-12 private schools with a STEM-heavy, accelerated curriculum positioned in major U.S. metros; represents a scaled, branded challenger to single-campus gifted schools like Nysmith.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nysmithschool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nysmithschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/nysmithschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenysmithschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nysmith-school-for-the-gifted

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Nysmith School for the Gifted