Sandhills School

What Sandhills School does

Sandhills School is a non-profit, co-educational day school located on a 20-acre campus at 1500 Hallbrook Drive in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1975 as Sandhills Academy and renamed Sandhills School in 2003, the institution serves students in grades 1 through 12 who have been diagnosed with language-based learning differences, principally dyslexia along with dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD, and related executive-functioning difficulties. The school enrolls 114 students in the 2025-26 academic year (up from 105 in 2023-24), drawing families from a 45-mile radius across 22 zip codes in Greater Columbia, Lexington, Irmo/Chapin, Sumter, and Lugoff.

The school's product is a unified Orton-Gillingham (OG) instructional program delivered through three divisions (Lower School Grades 1-5, Middle School Grades 6-8, Upper School Grades 9-12), supplemented by College Counseling, an 11-team Athletics Program competing in SCISA Class 1A Region IV, after-school clubs, an Aftercare program (2:55-5:30pm), and after-school/summer OG tutoring. The OG methodology — a multisensory, structured-literacy approach engaging auditory, visual, and kinesthetic neural pathways — is the institution's core differentiator and is delivered by 29 OG-trained faculty at a 3:1 student-teacher ratio with class sizes capped at 7 in homeroom and as low as 2 in language training. Sandhills is one of only 19 schools worldwide accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy as an instructional program, and one of only 10 globally dually accredited as both an instructional program and a teacher training center; it is the only OG-accredited 1st-12th grade school in South Carolina.

Revenue is generated primarily through $29,550 annual tuition (2026-27) paid via annual, semi-annual, or monthly plans administered through the FACTS platform, supplemented by a $200,000 Annual Fund target, $500,000 in need-based financial aid funded in part by donations, ancillary fees (application, athletics, field trips, yearbook), and corporate matching gift partnerships. The institution is a 501(c)(3) governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees and led by Head of School Erika Senneseth, M.Ed. Channel structure is purely direct-to-family via a rolling admissions process managed by Director of Admissions Ramsay Bokinsky, with no third-party distributors. The school has been continuously recognized through 2026 awards including the Pioneer in Education Award from Richland County Public Education Partners and SC Biz News' Top 100 Influential Women recognition for its Head of School.

Name

Sandhills School

Legal name

Sandhills School

Website

https://sandhillsschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sandhills School is a non-profit 1st-12th grade day school in Columbia, SC serving 114 students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences through an Orton-Gillingham curriculum at a 3:1 student-teacher ratio, drawing families from a 45-mile radius.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Special Education (K-12)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Structured Literacy / Orton-Gillingham Intervention Services (EDAKAJAC), Dyslexia & Structured Literacy (Orton-Gillingham) Tutoring (EDANAFAB)

Keywords

• Special education schools
• Dyslexia education
• Orton-Gillingham instruction
• College preparatory school
• Learning differences support

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition & Fees: Primary revenue stream. Tuition covers access to the OG-based curriculum, expert faculty instruction, small class sizes, technology access (Chromebook), lab supplies, and books. Additional fees apply for application, field trips, sports/clubs participation, and yearbook.
2. Annual Fund Donations: Annual giving campaign supplementing tuition income to fund academic programs, extracurricular activities, faculty development, and financial aid. Runs July 1 – June 30 annually. Target of $200,000 per year.
3. Financial Aid: Need-based financial aid awarded through SSS (School and Student Service for Financial Aid) platform. $500,000 awarded to 40% of student body in 2025-26. Scholarships funded through school events and donations awarded on first-come, first-served basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sandhills School is a 1st-12th grade non-profit college-preparatory day school serving bright students with diagnosed language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. The entire curriculum is built on the Orton-Gillingham (OG) structured literacy approach, delivered through a 3:1 student-teacher ratio with 100% OG-trained faculty, individualized annual academic plans (Blueprints), multisensory math and literacy instruction, executive functioning coaching, and a 1:1 Chromebook program. Supporting programs include college counseling, interscholastic athletics, clubs, aftercare, and after-school/summer OG tutoring.

Product overview

Sandhills School is a 1st-12th grade non-profit college-preparatory day school for students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences (dysgraphia, dyscalculia). The school offers a unified educational program built upon the Orton-Gillingham approach, with grade-level programs including Lower School (Grades 1-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12). Supporting programs include College Counseling, an Athletics Program with 11 interscholastic teams, Clubs and Activities, Aftercare, and after-school/summer tutoring services. The school's 3:1 student-teacher ratio and individualized instruction philosophy permeate all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orton-Gillingham Language Training Daily structured literacy instruction using multisensory techniques, explicit phonics, and individualized feedback for students with dyslexia; the foundational methodology underlying all instruction at Sandhills School.
• Lower School Program (Grades 1-5) Elementary education program (Grades 1-5) building strong academic foundations through daily Orton-Gillingham Language Training, small-group math with hands-on techniques, and multisensory science and social studies instruction for students with language-based learning differences.
• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Middle school program (Grades 6-8) focusing on building independence and self-advocacy through Orton-Gillingham Language Arts, advanced math, executive functioning skills coaching, and inquiry-based learning in science and social studies.
• High School Program (Grades 9-12) College-preparatory high school program (Grades 9-12) with advanced Orton-Gillingham strategies supporting analytical reading, research-based writing, and literary analysis; prepares students for college-level coursework and includes study skills development.
• College Counseling Comprehensive college preparation service including ACT testing with accommodations, psycho-educational testing navigation, college selection review, recommendation letters, transcript submission, application assistance, financial aid guidance, and campus accommodation planning.
• Athletics Program Interscholastic sports program including varsity and middle school basketball, cross country, volleyball, tennis, equestrian, and pep-squad; students compete in SCISA Class 1A Region IV with 11 teams for Grades 5-12.
• Clubs and Activities After-school clubs including chess club, walking club, music club, ultimate frisbee, National Honor Society, student council, and quiz team; opportunities expand as students progress through grade levels.
• Aftercare Program After-school homework help and extended care from 2:55-5:30pm, including structured homework time from 3-4pm and structured games and activities from 4-5:30pm under Sandhills staff supervision.
• Orton-Gillingham Tutoring After-school and summer tutoring services using the Orton-Gillingham methodology, along with summer skills programs for students with dyslexia and related learning differences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 Sandhills students earned national recognition through the PreACT Rising Stars program (2026), with one student named Distinguished Scholar (Top 3% nationwide).
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Schoolhouse FareminorOthersSandhills School partners with Schoolhouse Fare, a school lunch delivery service, to provide ready-to-eat lunches from a variety of local restaurants including Zaxby's, Chickfila, Panda Express, I Heart Mac & Cheese, Subway, Panera, and PDQ. Meal orders and payment are completed online through Schoolhouse Fare. This partnership provides convenient lunch options for students without requiring the school to operate its own cafeteria.
• Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSandhills School is one of only 10 schools globally dually accredited by OGA — both as an instructional program serving students with dyslexia and as a teacher training center that guides educators through OG certification. This partnership positions Sandhills as a premier OG institution and a center for teacher professional development in the field of dyslexia education.
• Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSandhills School holds SAIS accreditation, meeting rigorous standards for independent schools in the Southern region. SAIS membership connects Sandhills to a network of independent schools and provides access to professional development and peer resources.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NAIS, a national organization representing independent schools. NAIS membership provides resources, advocacy, and professional development opportunities for independent school leaders and educators.
• Corporate Matching Gift PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSandhills School benefits from corporate matching gift programs including Wells Fargo, H&R Block, US Foods, Bank of America, UnitedHealth Group, Sysco Corporation, Nationwide, PwC, Coca-Cola, Verizon, PepsiCo, and Intel. These companies match employee donations to the school, amplifying annual fund contributions.
• SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSandhills School is a member of SCISA Class 1A Region IV, participating in interscholastic athletics and activities including basketball, cross country, volleyball, tennis, equestrian, cheerleading, and quiz bowl. SCISA provides competitive league governance for the school's athletic programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camperdown Academy: Camperdown Academy is a private school in Greenville, South Carolina serving students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences using Orton-Gillingham methodology. Direct geographic and pedagogical peer of Sandhills — same state, same population, same evidence-based intervention model.
• Landmark School: Landmark School in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts is one of the most established private schools in the U.S. dedicated to students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Pioneer in the field with full K-12 college-prep programming and OG-based instruction, directly comparable to Sandhills' model and target family.
• The Gow School: The Gow School in South Wales, New York is a residential private school serving bright students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences in grades 6-12. Comparable college-preparatory mission, multisensory instruction, and post-secondary outcomes focus, though residential vs. day format.
• Kildonan School: Kildonan School in Amenia, New York is a co-ed day and boarding school for dyslexic learners grades 2-12, founded on the Orton-Gillingham approach. Closely comparable in methodology, age range, and college-preparatory orientation to Sandhills.
• Forman School: Forman School in Litchfield, Connecticut is an independent college-preparatory boarding and day school specifically for students diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences. Operates small class sizes and individualized learning plans structurally similar to Sandhills' Blueprint approach.
• The Lab School of Washington: The Lab School of Washington is a private school serving students in grades 1-12 with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences in Washington, D.C. Comparable mission, full K-12 college-prep programming, multisensory language instruction, and 3:1-style low student-teacher ratios.
• Brehm Preparatory School: Brehm Preparatory School in Carbondale, Illinois is a co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 6-12 with learning differences and social-emotional challenges. Comparable college-preparatory focus, individualized learning plans, and multisensory instructional philosophy.
• The Howard School: The Howard School in Atlanta, Georgia is an independent day school serving students with language-based learning differences from elementary through high school. Closely aligned with Sandhills in Southeast regional footprint, OG-rooted methodology, and college-preparatory outcomes emphasis.
• The Prentice School: The Prentice School in Cerritos, California is an independent day school (grades 1-12) for students with dyslexia and other learning differences using multisensory, structured-literacy approaches. Comparable private K-12 dyslexia school model with college-preparatory outcomes.
• The Vanguard School: The Vanguard School in Lake Wales, Florida (and Hershey, Pennsylvania campus) is a private residential and day school for students with learning disabilities including dyslexia, serving grades 6-12. Comparable specialized instruction, small class sizes, and college-preparatory orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sandhillsschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/100068399315062
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sandhillsschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/sandhillsschool
• Xx.com/sandhillsschool

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Sandhills School