What St Johnsbury Academy does

St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate year, founded in 1842 and located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The institution operates two primary U.S. campus sites on Main Street and Perkins Street, plus an affiliated international campus (St. Johnsbury Academy – Jeju) in South Korea operating under both Korean government approval and NEASC accreditation. Its core product is a college-preparatory curriculum featuring 30+ AP courses, an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 12-student average class size, signature programs including the AP Capstone Diploma (one of four U.S. boarding schools in the College Board's initial cohort), and Career and Technical Education tracks across architecture/construction, business, hospitality/tourism, human services, and transportation/logistics. Specialized facilities include the Charles Hosmer Morse Center for the Arts and the Sweeney Applied Engineering Center (Maker Space), and the student-run Hilltopper Restaurant functions as a hands-on culinary training venue.

The school generates revenue almost exclusively through tuition and fees for boarding and day students, billed annually, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are dual: domestic boarding/day families across the U.S. and international students representing approximately 20+ countries, with notable concentration from South Korea via the Jeju affiliation. Ancillary revenue is generated through affiliated sub-brands including Adult Education, AP Summer Institute, RecFit (recreation/fitness), HALO (youth development), and Operation Creation (community outreach). Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: prospective families engage through campus tours, virtual tours, the admissions office (Director Nicole Biggie), and an international recruitment funnel supported by ESL and orientation services.

Strategic partnerships underwrite differentiation: a Harvard Weatherhead Center for International Affairs collaboration via the Colwell Center for Global Understanding, a Vermont Department of Labor apprenticeship co-development, and regional STEM partnerships (Fairbanks Museum, NH Academy of Science, FIRST Robotics). Boarding Guided Studies and Learning Center services extend the addressable market to students requiring learning support. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by Headmaster Dr. Sharon L. Howell; no external ownership, venture capital, or private equity ties were identified in source data.

Name

St Johnsbury Academy

Legal name

St. Johnsbury Academy

Website

https://stjacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, non-profit boarding and day school in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, serving grades 9-12 and postgraduate students with a college-preparatory curriculum, signature STEM/arts programs, and an affiliated international campus in South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Secondary Education (Boarding and Day School)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• Private boarding school
• College preparatory education
• Secondary education
• Career technical education
• Fine arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Johnsbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from tuition for both boarding and day students, plus additional fees for various programs and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

St. Johnsbury Academy operates an independent coeducational boarding and day private high school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate year, delivering a college preparatory curriculum with 30+ AP courses, career and technical education programs, fine arts, and athletic programs. Tuition-based enrollment serves domestic and international students from approximately 20+ countries, supported by signature programs in STEM, AP Capstone, fine arts intensive, boarding-guided studies, and the on-campus Hilltopper Restaurant.

Product overview

St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding and day private high school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate students in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The institution offers a unified college preparatory educational service centered on its core boarding and day school program, supplemented by specialized signature programs including the AP Capstone Diploma (offered by only a handful of elite schools), Applied Science and STEM Intensive (with Engineering, Biomedical, and Sustainability tracks), Technical Career Intensive, SJA Arts Intensive, and Boarding Guided Studies Program. The school also operates the Colwell Center for Global Understanding, The Hilltopper Restaurant, and RecFit as affiliated programs. Academic support is provided through the Learning Center, Structured Study Halls, and Reading and Writing Lab. Students come from approximately 20+ countries, with residential students representing nearly 30 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colwell Center for Global Understanding: Coordinates diversity programs, cultural events, international exchange programs, and student trips abroad. Launched in 2003 through a gift from the Steven B. Colwell family.
• Hilltopper Restaurant
• Charles Hosmer Morse Center for the Arts

Products and services

• Boarding and Day Private High School Independent, coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate year, offering a college preparatory curriculum with 30+ AP courses to families seeking private secondary education.
• AP Capstone Diploma Program Elite two-course AP sequence (AP Seminar and AP Research) leading to the AP Capstone Diploma, offered to high-achieving students seeking college-level research skills and credentialing.
• Applied Science and STEM Intensive Signature STEM program with three concentration pathways (Engineering Design and Development, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Sustainability Studies), featuring hands-on coursework and access to the Sweeney Applied Engineering Center Maker Space.
• Technical Career Intensive Deep-dive career preparation program offering concentrations in Automotive Technology, Construction, Culinary Arts, Electricity, Human Services, Natural Resources Management, Woodworking, and Welding for students pursuing technical pathways.
• SJA Arts Intensive Fine arts concentration program offering visual arts (Anatomy, Printmaking, Photography, Fashion Design, Filmmaking, Digital Design, Clay, Sculpture, Painting) and performing arts (Acting, Stagecraft, Ballet, Modern Dance, Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, Strings, Guitar) for artistically inclined students.
• Boarding Guided Studies Program Structured academic support program providing one-on-one instruction and coordination with classroom accommodations for boarding students needing additional learning support.
• Colwell Center for Global Understanding Global education center coordinating diversity programs, cultural events, international exchange programs, student trips abroad, and the Colwell Speaker Series in partnership with Harvard's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Technical education department covering career clusters in Architecture/Construction, Business and Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Human Services, and Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL), available to SJA students and regional high school participants.
• The Hilltopper Restaurant Student-run on-campus restaurant operated by culinary arts CTE students, providing hands-on hospitality experience with public dining service.
• Summer Boarding Experience Summer program offering a boarding school experience for prospective students evaluating SJA for full enrollment.
• RecFit Affiliated recreation and fitness program operated in connection with St. Johnsbury Academy's athletic and wellness offerings.
• Adult Education Adult education programs operated by St. Johnsbury Academy for community adult learners.
• St. Johnsbury Academy - Jeju Affiliated accredited international school branch operating in Jeju, South Korea under Korean government approval and NEASC accreditation, sharing the St. Johnsbury Academy educational approach.
• AP Summer Institute Affiliate organization offering AP Summer Institute professional development for educators, hosted on the St. Johnsbury Academy campus.
• HALO Affiliated youth development program operated by St. Johnsbury Academy.
• Operation Creation Affiliated community outreach program operated by St. Johnsbury Academy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of 2025 graduates received offers from overseas universities including Ivy League institutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2024Vermont Department of Labor brought its focus on workforce development to the Northeast Kingdom with an event marking National Apprenticeship Week at St. Johnsbury Academy. Launch of new apprenticeship program at the school.
• Harvard University Weatherhead Center for International AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Colwell Center for Global Understanding partners with Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs on the Colwell Speaker Series. Speakers are hosted by members of the Academy's Colwell Scholars program, designed to encourage students' interest in international issues and cultures.
• St. Johnsbury Academy - JejucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSJA Jeju is an affiliated accredited international school in South Korea operating under both Korean government approval and US-based NEASC accreditation. Both institutions share the St. Johnsbury Academy name and educational approach, with Jeju campus approaching its 10th anniversary.
• Fairbanks Museum STEM LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for independent science research opportunities in conjunction with SJA's Independent Science Studies Lab for STEM-focused students.
• NH Academy of ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for science fair preparation, research presentation opportunities, and competition support for students pursuing science research projects.
• AP Summer InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate organization offering AP Summer Institute professional development for educators, hosted at SJA campus.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Phillips Exeter Academy: Harkness-table pioneer and elite coed boarding school in New Hampshire. Comparable on academic rigor and college-prep outcomes, though with a far larger endowment and brand.
• Phillips Academy Andover: One of the largest and most established U.S. boarding schools with broad signature programs, deep endowment, and global admissions reach. Comparable on college-prep and AP depth but with materially larger scale than SJA.
• The Lawrenceville School: Highly selective New Jersey boarding school with the well-known Harkness discussion method. Comparable on residential college-prep and elite admissions outcomes, though at materially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Choate Rosemary Hall: Connecticut-based elite boarding school and member of the inaugural AP Capstone cohort alongside SJA. Directly comparable coeducational boarding model, AP Capstone differentiation, and college-prep positioning.
• Deerfield Academy: Elite U.S. boarding school in Massachusetts and a fellow member of the original AP Capstone cohort with SJA. Competes for boarding students seeking AP Capstone and Ivy-track preparation; comparable on curriculum, faculty ratios, and residential model.
• Milton Academy: Massachusetts independent coed boarding and day school with comparable AP depth, signature programs, and Ivy-track outcomes. Directly overlapping in market for grade 9-12 day and boarding students.
• The Hotchkiss School: Elite Connecticut boarding school with comparable coed residential model, strong AP and college-prep positioning, and signature programs in arts and STEM. Directly competes for top-quartile boarding applicants.
• Northfield Mount Hermon: New England coed boarding school with signature programs model similar to SJA. Comparable scale, curriculum structure, and international recruitment emphasis.
• Loomis Chaffee School: Connecticut coed boarding school with similar size, signature programs model, and selective college-prep positioning. Comparable in international recruitment and STEM/arts emphasis.
• Taft School: Elite coed boarding school in Connecticut, fourth member of the AP Capstone cohort with SJA, Choate, and Deerfield. Closely comparable on residential college-prep model, AP-curriculum depth, and international recruitment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/stjacademy
• Xx.com/StJAcademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries6 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 St Johnsbury Academy