What Whitfield School does

Whitfield School is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational college-preparatory day school serving approximately 425 students in grades 6 through 12 on a 26-acre campus at 175 S. Mason Road in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1952 by John Barnes and Allan Cole, the school operates with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio, an average class size of 12.5, and 45 full-time faculty (34 with advanced degrees). Its core academic product comprises the Middle School Program (grades 6-8) and Upper School Program (grades 9-12), unified by an experiential learning pedagogy and the proprietary "Habits of Mind & Heart" character education framework covering ethics, scholarship, citizenship, leadership, mindfulness, and cultural competence. The Upper School culminates in a Senior Capstone project, and a College Counseling program begins informally in sixth grade.

The business model is tuition-driven: annual tuition is $34,050, supplemented by application fees ($50 via SAO), shuttle bus service along the Highway 40/Clayton Road corridor ($19/day round-trip), and philanthropic giving through the annual fund ($1.2M FY2025 goal). Financial aid is administered via Clarity with an average award of $18,700 and merit scholarships averaging $5,000. The school operates as a nonprofit governed by a Board of Trustees (Chair Jeffrey Evitts), with Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., as Head of School since 2022. The endowment stood at $13.5 million as of June 30, 2023. Technology infrastructure consists of Canvas LMS for course management, the Veracross parent portal for communication, and a 1:1 laptop program with an internal technology support desk; no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Customers are St. Louis-area families seeking private middle and high school education, with 38% students of color, 2% international students, and families drawn from 141 feeder schools across 60 zip codes. Co-curricular offerings include 32 athletic teams (no-cut philosophy, 80% participation, 38 state championships), 23 student-led clubs, 10 affinity groups, and a Fine Arts program; the school reports 100% college acceptance with 85% of graduates attending college outside Missouri. Marketing is admissions-driven via campus visits, SAO applications, SSAT/ISSEE entrance exams, and a multi-channel mix of website, social media, SEO, and alumni referrals. The "Whitfield 2030" strategic plan currently guides institutional direction.

Name

Whitfield School

Legal name

The Whitfield School

Website

https://whitfieldschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Whitfield School is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational college-preparatory day school serving approximately 425 students in grades 6-12 on a 26-acre St. Louis campus, operating a tuition-driven model ($34,050/year) with experiential learning and a proprietary character education curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Annual tuition for grades 6-12; primary revenue stream for the independent private school
2. Transportation Services: Shuttle bus service along Highway 40/Clayton Road corridor with round-trip and one-way options
3. Application Fees: $50 application fee payable through SAO for admission processing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Whitfield School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory day school serving grades 6-12 in St. Louis, Missouri. It delivers rigorous academics through an experiential, inquiry-driven pedagogy supported by its proprietary Habits of Mind & Heart character education framework, with college counseling, athletics, fine arts, and student support services offered on a 26-acre campus. The school enrolls approximately 425 students in small classes (9:1 student-teacher ratio, average class size 12.5) and reports a 100% college acceptance rate.

Product overview

Whitfield School is a college preparatory private middle and high school (grades 6-12) offering a unified educational experience built on experiential learning principles. The core academic products include the Middle School Program (grades 6-8) and Upper School Program (grades 9-12), which share the school's distinctive Habits of Mind & Heart character education framework and advisory system. These are supported by specialized programs including the College Counseling Program, Athletics (32 teams), Fine Arts, and 23 student-led Clubs & Affinity Groups. The school provides additional support services including DEI programming, student counseling, tech support (1:1 laptop program), and accommodations for learning differences. All programs operate within a unified campus community emphasizing small class sizes (average 12.5 students) and a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) College preparatory middle school education for grades 6-8, featuring experiential learning, executive functioning support, advisory programs, and the Habits of Mind & Heart character education framework. Designed for students in early adolescence preparing for Upper School.
• Upper School Program (Grades 9-12) Comprehensive college preparatory high school education for grades 9-12 requiring four years of English, Social Studies, Math, and Science; three years of World Language; and one year each of Fine Arts and Physical Education, culminating in a Senior Capstone project.
• College Counseling Program Personalized college counseling starting in sixth grade and culminating in a one-on-one student/parent/counselor partnership in eleventh and twelfth grades, providing executive functioning skill development and decision-making guidance.
• Athletics Program Inclusive athletics program offering 32 teams with a no-cut philosophy ensuring every student can participate while competing at local and state-wide events; 80% student participation rate.
• Fine Arts Program Comprehensive arts education including Visual Arts, Instrumental and Vocal Music, and Theater, with campus exhibitions, performances, and one required credit for graduation.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Programs Comprehensive DEI programming including Student Diversity Council, Real Talk conversations, affinity groups, advisory discussions, celebrations, professional development for faculty, and conference opportunities for students.
• Student Support Services Multi-tiered support including health and wellness curriculum, advisory program, counseling services, tech support, tutoring, college counseling, and student accommodations for learning differences.
• Shuttle Bus Transportation Service Shuttle bus service along the Highway 40/Clayton Road corridor with round-trip and one-way pricing options, expanding geographic accessibility for families across the St. Louis region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• John Burroughs School: Highly selective independent college preparatory school in Ladue, St. Louis serving grades 7-12 with a similarly rigorous liberal arts curriculum and competitive college placement. Most direct local competitor to Whitfield.
• Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS): One of St. Louis's most prestigious JK-12 independent schools, operating a two-campus model with similar tuition tier and a long history of college preparatory education. Strong direct competitor for families evaluating Whitfield.
• Principia School: Independent coeducational college preparatory school in St. Louis area serving grades PK-12, with comparable boarding/day structure and emphasis on character development alongside academics.
• Crossroads College Preparatory School: St. Louis-area independent school serving grades 7-12 with a similar college preparatory mission, small class sizes, and progressive education emphasis that overlaps Whitfield's experiential approach.
• Forsyth Country Day School: Independent college preparatory school in the Southeast serving grades PK-12 with experiential learning emphasis, small class sizes, and strong athletics programs — a useful comparable for Whitfield's operating model.

Regional players

• Westminster Christian Academy: Independent Christian college preparatory school in St. Louis offering grades 7-12 with comparable tuition, athletics programs, and college placement rates. Competes for similar St. Louis families.

Broad incumbents

• The Lawrenceville School: Elite national independent school in New Jersey where Head of School Chris Cunningham previously served as Assistant Head. Comparable in academic rigor, residential scope, and college outcomes; relevant for benchmarking and leadership lineage.

Others

• PRISMS (Private Schools for the St. Louis Metro): Industry association representing independent private schools in the St. Louis region. Peer organization rather than competitor, but relevant for understanding Whitfield's competitive set and market dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whitfieldschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/whitfieldschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitfieldwarriors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Whitfield School