Riverstone International School

What Riverstone International School does

Riverstone International School (RIS) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) day and boarding school located on a 14-acre campus along the Boise River at 5521 East Warm Springs Avenue, Boise, Idaho. It serves approximately 300 students from Preschool through Grade 12, representing more than 41 nationalities, and is one of only 37 U.S. schools authorized in all three International Baccalaureate programmes (PYP, MYP, DP). The school delivers a unified IB curriculum organized around a proprietary "Five Pillars" framework — Academic Excellence, Community & Service, Leadership by Example, International Understanding, and Outdoor Education — and offers three High School academic pathways: the Riverstone Diploma, the IB Diploma, and the Advanced IB Diploma.

The school is structured across four academic divisions (Early Years, Elementary, Middle School, High School) plus a Grades 8-12 boarding program, an Outdoor Education program spanning all grade levels, the Otter Exchange international program (launched Fall 2025 with partner schools in Florence, Madrid, Germany, and China), College Counseling, Learning Support, and the Bridge Internships program providing 15 exclusive local placements. Technology platform is composed of standard third-party SaaS: ManageBac for IB academic planning and reporting, Finalsite for enrollment, ParentSquare for parent communications, REACH for boarding, and Parchment for credentialing. Outcomes are documented at 100% acceptance into top-50 U.S. universities, an average $300,000 in merit aid per Class of 2026 graduate, and 84% four-year college graduation among IB Diploma holders versus 39% nationally.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition, which covers approximately 80-85% of actual per-student cost, with the remaining 15-20% gap bridged by a multi-channel fundraising apparatus: the Riverstone Fund (annual fund), Annual Auction Gala (~$284,370.97 in 2026), named endowment funds, planned giving, and named scholarships. Over one-third of students receive financial aid. Pricing is offered via 1, 2, 4, or 10-installment payment plans, with ancillary services such as the Life's Kitchen lunch program priced on a per-unit basis ($3.50-$5.20). The school holds #1 K-12 private school ranking in Idaho per Niche.com (A+, top 4% nationally, top 1% on the Jay Matthews Challenge Index), is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Molly Otter, and is led by Head of School John Gasparini.

Name

Riverstone International School

Legal name

Riverstone International School

Website

https://riverstoneschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Riverstone International School is an independent nonprofit day and boarding school in Boise, Idaho, serving approximately 300 Preschool-Grade 12 students from 41+ countries through a fully authorized International Baccalaureate curriculum (PYP, MYP, DP).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• IB World School
• International baccalaureate program
• Boarding school services
• Preschool to grade 12 education

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

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. Tuition covers approximately 80-85% of the actual cost of educating each student. Families can choose from various payment plans including 1, 2, 4, or 10 payment options with due dates on the 15th of each month.
2. The Riverstone Fund: Annual fundraising campaign (formerly Annual Fund) that bridges the gap between tuition and full cost of education. Supports faculty, programs, campus enhancements, and financial assistance. Participation by Board, alumni, parents, faculty, and grandparents.
3. Annual Auction Gala: Major annual fundraising event bringing together families, faculty, and friends. Features grade-level art auction, live and silent auctions supporting designated Fund-A-Need. 2026 gala raised approximately $284,370.97 for outdoor play spaces and equipment.
4. Endowment Funds: Named endowment funds established by donors that provide sustainable impact for generations of students. Fund benefactors receive annual reports on fund performance and effect on community.
5. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through trusts, charitable gift annuities, IRA distributions, life insurance policies, or bequests from members of the Riverstone community.
6. Scholarship Funds: Named scholarship funds in memory of alumni such as Paige Bergmann Scholarship and Jim Harper Scholarship supporting students who embody Riverstone spirit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Riverstone International School is a private, nonprofit IB World School providing Preschool through Grade 12 education to approximately 300 students in Boise, Idaho. It offers both day and boarding programs and delivers the full International Baccalaureate curriculum across primary, middle, and diploma years.

Product overview

Riverstone International School is a small-by-design, independent private school offering Preschool through Grade 12 education with a unified International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. The school provides a comprehensive portfolio of programs: Early Years Program (Preschool/Pre-K), Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12) with three academic pathways (Riverstone Diploma, IB Diploma, and Advanced IB Diploma). The portfolio includes an IB Boarding Program for Grades 8-12, an extensive Outdoor Education Program spanning all grade levels, Student Travel and the Otter Exchange international programs, College Counseling, Learning Support, Bridge Internships, Athletics, and over 30 clubs. The five pillars guiding all programs are Academic Excellence, Community and Service, Leadership by Example, International Understanding, and Outdoor Education. All programs integrate with technology platforms including ManageBac for academic tracking, Finalsite for enrollment, ParentSquare for communications, and various lunch/calendar programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Riverstone Fund: Annual fundraising initiative that bridges the gap between tuition and full cost of education, supporting faculty, programs, campus improvements, and financial aid.
• Annual Auction Gala
• Paige Bergmann Scholarship
• Jim Harper Scholarship

Products and services

• Preschool (Early Years) Program Early childhood education program for preschool-aged children, following the IB Primary Years framework, serving local Boise families.
• Day School Program (K-Grade 12) Full-day private school education for elementary, middle, and high school students using the IB curriculum, serving local and commuting families in Boise, Idaho.
• Residential Boarding Program On-campus residential boarding option for students attending the school, expanding access to families beyond the local Boise commuting area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate to top 50 US Colleges and Universities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Boise Gala Sponsors (20+ local businesses)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate sponsors supporting the Annual Auction Gala including Del Taco, TOK, Lovevery, Slattery Orthodontics, Athletic Club Boise, ASA, and others contributing to Fund-A-Need initiatives.
• The International School of Florence (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Otter Exchange Program partner for reciprocal international exchange experiences beginning Fall 2025. Emphasizes interdisciplinary learning connected to IB expectations, language immersion, cultural exchange, and host family stays.
• The American School of Madrid (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Otter Exchange Program partner for reciprocal international exchange experiences. Students participate in exchanges emphasizing interdisciplinary learning, language immersion, cultural exchange, and authentic daily life experiences in another community.
• Wilhelm-Raabe-Schule (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Otter Exchange Program partner for reciprocal international exchange experiences aligned with IB framework, including coursework that brings learning back into Riverstone classrooms.
• Beanstalk International Bilingual School (China)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Otter Exchange Program partner supporting Mandarin-language immersion and cultural exchange experiences for Riverstone students.
• My Hot LunchboxminorOthersLunch program partner providing hot lunch options on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from various restaurants including Panda Express, Boise Fry Company, Noodles & Co, and Red Robin.
• Life's KitchenminorOthersHot lunch program partner for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 providing nutritious meals served in the cafeteria.
• ManageBaccoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline platform for planning, assessment, and reporting for IB programmes. Primary email platform for direct communication between students, faculty, and parents.
• FinalsitecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline enrollment management software handling inquiries, applications, enrollment forms, contact information, required school forms, and immunization records.
• ParentSquarecoreTechnology or IntegrationCommunication platform used for school directory, annual student/class directory, and time-sensitive mass texts including school cancellations and bus delays.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• United World College of Southeast Asia (UWCSEA): Singapore-based IB World School serving K-12 with full DP authorization and a large international student body. Direct peer on IB authorization profile, international student mix, and premium positioning — and a prior employer of Riverstone's Head of School.
• Munich International School: German-based IB World School offering full IB curriculum from primary through diploma. Direct comparable given Riverstone's Head of School John Gasparini previously served there as Deputy Head and given similar IB-day-and-boarding operating model in a single non-US metro.
• American School of Madrid: Spain-based IB World School serving K-12 with full DP authorization and a significant international student population. Direct peer on IB authorization and international-student mix; also an Otter Exchange Program partner of Riverstone.
• International School of Florence: Italy-based IB World School serving preschool through Grade 12 with full PYP/MYP/DP authorization. Direct peer on IB authorization, small international cohort, and Otter Exchange partnership with Riverstone.
• American School of Milan: Italy-based IB World School serving primarily US and international expatriate families with a K-12 IB curriculum and boarding. Directly comparable international-IB-day-and-boarding model; also a prior employer of Riverstone's Head of School.
• Branksome Hall Asia: South Korea-based IB World School offering IB PYP/MYP/DP and boarding for Grades 7-12. Comparable international-IB-boarding profile, small-by-design ethos, and prior employer of Riverstone's Head of School.

Broad incumbents

• United Nations International School (UNIS): NYC-based K-12 IB World School with full PYP/MYP/DP authorization serving a UN-affiliated international student body. Comparable on full IB authorization and international student mix, though substantially larger and embedded in a different urban geography.
• Lakeside School: Seattle-based elite independent 5-12 day school consistently ranked among the top US private schools for college placement. Comparable on premium independent-school positioning, college outcomes focus, and Pacific Northwest geography, though it is not an IB World School.
• Sidwell Friends School: Washington, DC-based elite independent K-12 day school with IB Diploma authorization and exceptional college placement outcomes. Comparable on premium independent-school positioning and college outcomes focus, though larger and broader in scope than Riverstone's Boise IB niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/riverstoneschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/RiverstoneInternationalSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/riverstone-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/riverstone_intl_school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Riverstone International School