ICA Cristo Rey Academy

What ICA Cristo Rey Academy does

ICA Cristo Rey Academy is a private, nonprofit Dominican Catholic college preparatory high school for girls, located in San Francisco's Mission District at 3625 24th Street. Founded in 1876 by three Dominican Sisters led by Mother Maria Pia Backes and sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, the school is the oldest and last all-girls school in San Francisco and has operated continuously for 143 years. The institution enrolls approximately 250 students with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio; 98% of students identify as People of Color, 87% are first-generation college-bound, and 71% of families qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch. ICA joined the Cristo Rey Network in 2008 and rebranded accordingly, becoming the only all-girls school in the nation with an integrated Corporate Work Study (CWS) program.

The core academic and product offering is the CWS program: students attend classes four days per week and work one day per week at one of 80+ Bay Area corporate partner sites spanning 20 industries, rotating through positions over four years to fill shared full-time roles while gaining professional experience. The school complements CWS with 11 Advanced Placement courses, four-year college counseling (delivered via Naviance and one-on-one advisors), 27 student clubs, 9 athletic teams, Campus Ministry, wellness services, and add-on credentialing programs including a CNA partnership with the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and an Engineering Summer Camp. The underlying technology stack is conventional education SaaS — Naviance for college planning, PowerSchool for SIS, Finalsite for website/CMS, MailerLite for email, HomeCampus for athletics forms, Weglot for translation, and FSEnrollment for admissions — with no proprietary AI or platform IP.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) a sliding-scale tuition based on demonstrated family need, with typical family contributions of $1,500-$1,900 per year against an all-in cost of nearly $25,000 per student; (2) corporate partner fees paid for student work placements that offset tuition; and (3) charitable donations through annual funds, planned giving, and event fundraising. Pricing is annual and need-based, go-to-market is direct admissions (community events, open houses, Spartan for a Day campus visits, and informational sessions), and the customer base is geographically concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area with students drawn from 43 zip codes.

Name

ICA Cristo Rey Academy

Legal name

Immaculate Conception Academy

Website

https://icacristorey.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICA Cristo Rey Academy is a nonprofit Dominican Catholic college preparatory high school for girls in San Francisco's Mission District, serving ~250 students from underserved communities with a unique four-year Corporate Work Study program placing students at 80+ Bay Area employers alongside AP coursework and college counseling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Payments: ICA Cristo Rey operates on a sliding scale tuition model based on family demonstrated need. Typical family contribution is $1500-$1900 per year, with the school subsidizing the remaining cost. Total cost of education per student is nearly $25000.
2. Corporate Work Study Revenue Sharing: Corporate partners pay fees for Student Associates which help offset tuition costs, making college prep education accessible to young women who might not otherwise afford it.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The school receives charitable donations through annual funds, planned giving programs, and event fundraising to support operations and financial assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ICA Cristo Rey Academy is a Dominican Catholic college preparatory high school for young women in San Francisco. It delivers a four-year integrated program of rigorous academics (including AP and Honors courses), a distinctive Corporate Work Study (CWS) program placing students one day per week at Bay Area corporate partner sites, college counseling from freshman through senior year, Dominican Catholic spiritual formation, athletics, and student life programming.

Product overview

ICA Cristo Rey Academy is a Dominican Catholic college preparatory high school offering a unified educational program centered on academic excellence, the distinctive Corporate Work Study (CWS) program, and spiritual development. The school provides AP and Honors coursework, comprehensive college counseling, athletics, 27 student clubs, Campus Ministry, and wellness services. The CWS program is a core differentiator, integrating students into professional workplaces one day per week throughout their four years. Additional specialized offerings include an Engineering Summer Camp and a Certified Nursing Assistant program in partnership with USF. The institution operates as a single integrated educational program rather than a modular platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Work Study (CWS) Program A four-year work-study program where students attend school four days per week and work one day per week at corporate partner sites, filling full-time positions in a job-sharing model and gaining professional experience while helping offset the cost of their private education.
• Advanced Placement (AP) & Honors Courses College-level coursework offered to qualified sophomore, junior, and senior students, including 11 AP courses and 4 Honors courses with weighted GPA, covering subjects including history, English, calculus, sciences, and languages.
• College Counseling Services Comprehensive college preparation services including one-on-one counseling from 9th to 12th grade, weekly senior-year counseling classes, Naviance platform access, financial aid workshops, and university partner network through Cristo Rey Network.
• Engineering Summer Camp Summer program introducing students to engineering concepts, taught by Interim Principal Yvonne Faisal, a STEM educator and electrical engineer.
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program Healthcare certification partnership with University of San Francisco's School of Nursing and Health Professions, providing students with hands-on skills and credentials for healthcare careers.
• Athletics Program Competitive sports program featuring 9 athletic teams including volleyball, cross country, flag football, soccer, basketball, swimming, and track & field, competing in the CIF-San Francisco Section.
• Student Clubs & Organizations 27 student-led clubs and school organizations including academic societies (NHS, CSF), cultural clubs, service organizations, arts groups, and student government.
• Campus Ministry Spiritual development program rooted in Dominican Catholic traditions, offering liturgies, prayer services, retreats (KAIROS, Freshman through Senior), and service opportunities.
• Wellness & Counseling Services Mental health support including school counselors, wellness coordinator, personal counseling, crisis support resources, and health education programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate for Class of 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cristo Rey NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of 41 Catholic, college-preparatory high schools serving students with limited economic resources. Combines rigorous academics with four years of professional work experience. ICA joined in 2008.
• Dominican Sisters of Mission San JosecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsoring religious organization continuing the legacy of Mother Maria Pia Backes, providing spiritual and educational foundation since 1876.
• ICGS (International Coalition of Girls' Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization promoting and supporting all-girls education. ICA actively participates in advocacy and research initiatives.
• AbbViecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBiotech company providing Corporate Work Study placements with all-female teams offering mentorship in scientific research environments.
• AirbnbcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology company partner providing Corporate Work Study placements for students to gain professional experience in tech industry.
• UCSF HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare system providing Corporate Work Study placements including UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital for medical career exploration.
• Kirkland & Ellis LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal law firm providing Corporate Work Study placements for students to experience legal professional environments.
• Latham & Watkins LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational law firm providing Corporate Work Study placements in legal profession.
• GenslercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm providing Corporate Work Study placements for students interested in design and construction.
• Dodge & CoxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestment management firm providing Corporate Work Study placements in finance sector.
• Capital GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestment company providing Corporate Work Study placements for finance career exposure.
• GAP Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail company providing Corporate Work Study placements for professional retail and corporate experience.
• Stanford UniversitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHigher education partner providing Corporate Work Study placements and college access support.
• UC Berkeley College of EngineeringcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering college partner providing Corporate Work Study placements for STEM career exploration.
• KGO-TV ABC7coreGTM or Marketing PartnerABC affiliate news station providing Corporate Work Study placements in broadcast media journalism.
• Levi Strauss & Co.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIconic apparel company providing Corporate Work Study placements in retail and corporate settings.
• Jones DaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal law firm providing Corporate Work Study placements in legal profession.
• Morrison FoerstercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm providing Corporate Work Study placements for legal career experience.
• Fenwick & West LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology-focused law firm providing Corporate Work Study placements in Silicon Valley legal practice.
• Sheppard MullincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm providing Corporate Work Study placements for legal career exploration.
• Highland Capital PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenture capital firm providing Corporate Work Study placements in investment management.
• Bon Appétit ManagementcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoodservice company providing Corporate Work Study placements for food service management experience.
• WebcorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction company providing Corporate Work Study placements in building and construction industry.
• Herrero Boldt WebcorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction firm providing Corporate Work Study placements including contributions to UCSF hospital expansion projects.
• Heffernan Insurance BrokerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance brokerage providing Corporate Work Study placements in financial services.
• University of San Francisco School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing CNA certification program enabling students to earn nursing assistant credentials during high school.
• Elevate TutoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTutor Fellow program providing high quality STEM tutoring and mentoring to ICA students.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Convent of the Sacred Heart High School: Independent all-girls Catholic college preparatory high school in San Francisco serving a similar Bay Area demographic with comparable tuition, mission, and college outcomes focus.
• Mercy High School Burlingame: Sisters of Mercy-sponsored all-girls Catholic college preparatory high school in the Bay Area, sharing ICA Cristo Rey's single-sex, Catholic, college-prep model and regional student pool.
• Holy Names High School: Catholic all-girls college preparatory high school in Oakland operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names, directly comparable in mission, single-sex structure, and Bay Area service area.
• Castilleja School: Independent all-girls college preparatory school in Palo Alto serving Bay Area families with a comparable college-counseling focus and rigorous academic profile.
• Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton: Catholic, single-sex college preparatory school in the Bay Area with shared Dominican/religious heritage and a similar commitment to whole-person education.

Regional players

• St. Ignatius College Preparatory: Jesuit Catholic co-ed college preparatory high school in San Francisco, comparable as a Bay Area Catholic college-prep peer competing for similar families and donors.
• Marin Catholic High School: Catholic co-ed college preparatory high school in Marin County, comparable as a Bay Area Catholic college-prep institution competing for regional Catholic families.
• Bellarmine College Preparatory: Jesuit all-boys Catholic college preparatory school in the Bay Area, comparable as a regional Catholic college-prep peer serving a parallel mission-driven demographic.
• Urban School of San Francisco: Independent co-ed college preparatory high school in San Francisco's Mission/Hayes Valley area, comparable in scale, college outcomes focus, and Bay Area urban college-prep positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Cristo Rey Network (National): National umbrella organization of 41 Catholic college-prep schools operating the Corporate Work Study model; ICA is a member school since 2008 and operates under its framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@icacristorey1883
• Facebookfacebook.com/icacristoreyacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ica-cristo-rey-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/icacristoreyacademy
• Xx.com/icacristorey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 ICA Cristo Rey Academy