Saint Mary's School

What Saint Mary's School does

Saint Mary's School is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12, located on a 23-acre historic campus in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1842, it operates as a nonprofit governed by a Board of Trustees (2025-2026, chaired by Tiffany Miller Clark '82HS) under Head of School Adam Holden, Ed.D. The school enrolled 315 students for the 2025-2026 academic year drawn from 16 countries and 14 states, served by approximately 176 faculty and staff (34 of whom live on campus), with a 4:1 student-to-adult ratio and average class size of 13.

The academic offering is built on a 21-course AP and Distinguished Scholars curriculum, a four-year interdisciplinary Seminar Program centered on 10 Key Competencies and a digital Portfolio for Life, plus signature programs such as the newly launched Leadership Immersion Lab (2024-2025) for 11th- and 12th-grade boarders, and the Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI), a two-week residential summer program designed by Georgetown University scholar-in-residence Dr. Erika Cohen Derr. The school reports a 100% college acceptance rate, with personalized college counseling beginning in 9th grade, and offers 20 varsity/JV teams across 13 sports, 30+ student clubs, six global immersion programs, and a new performing arts capability following the November 2025 dedication of the Blanche Robertson Bacon Performing Arts Center.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition — $66,500 for boarding and $34,275 for day students in 2026-2027 — which covers approximately 70% of the cost of education. The remaining gap is funded through the Annual Fund (celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2025), the recently completed Forever Campaign, endowed funds, planned giving, and corporate/foundation grants. Auxiliary revenue streams include the Summer @ Saint Mary's academic program ($1,250-$2,500 per session), the YWLI, seasonal boarding add-ons ($11,300), and campus facilities rentals for weddings and events. Distribution is driven by a sales-led admissions process with a dedicated enrollment management team, a direct international recruitment pipeline, and a multi-channel marketing presence spanning the website, five social platforms, campus visits, virtual tours, and an active alumnae referral network.

Name

Saint Mary's School

Legal name

Saint Mary's School

Website

https://sms.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Saint Mary's School is a 1842-founded independent Episcopal college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12, located on a 23-acre historic campus in downtown Raleigh, NC, enrolling 315 students from 16 countries and offering signature leadership programs, a 100% college acceptance rate, and tuition covering ~70% of educational costs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Private school education
• Boarding school programs
• College preparatory school
• Girls secondary education
• Summer academic programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Boarding Tuition: Annual tuition for boarding students includes room, board, meals, athletics, access to campus facilities, and comprehensive academic program. International students pay additional health insurance fee.
2. Day Student Tuition: Annual tuition for day students includes meals during school hours, athletics, and full academic program access
3. Seasonal Boarding: Additional fee for day students to experience residential life during fall, winter, and spring seasons
4. Summer Programs: Credit recovery and acceleration courses offered in summer sessions at per-session pricing; year-long courses extend across both sessions
5. Young Women's Leadership Institute: Two-week residential summer program with sponsorship opportunities and need-based scholarships available
6. Annual Fund and Donations: Private donations fund the gap between tuition (70% of cost) and actual educational expenses; includes annual fund, planned giving, endowed funds, and campaign contributions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Saint Mary's School is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12, located on a 23-acre historic campus in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The school delivers a residential and day academic program integrating rigorous coursework (including 21 AP courses and a Seminar Program), leadership development (Leadership Immersion Lab, Young Women's Leadership Institute), athletics, arts, and global travel, with 100% college acceptance among recent graduates.

Product overview

Saint Mary's School is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory boarding and day school for young women in grades 9-12. The institution offers a unified educational experience combining rigorous academics, leadership development through the Seminar Program and Leadership Immersion Lab, diverseathletics (Triangle Fitness with 20 teams), performing and visual arts, and global education programs. Programs include boarding (domestic, international, seasonal), day school, Summer @ Saint Mary's academic courses, and the Young Women's Leadership Institute summer program. The school operates on a 23-acre campus in downtown Raleigh with facilities including the historic Chapel, Sarah Graham Kenan Library, Bacon Gymnasium, and newly dedicated Blanche Robertson Bacon Performing Arts Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI): A two-week residential summer program designed by Georgetown University scholar-in-residence Dr. Erika Cohen Derr, offering leadership development for young women through workshops, speaker series, and experiential learning.

Products and services

• Boarding Program Residential educational program offering domestic, international, and seasonal boarding options for students in grades 9-12, providing a 24/7 living and learning community in downtown Raleigh.
• Day School Program College-preparatory day program allowing local students to live at home while accessing the same amenities, activities, and academic rigor as boarding students.
• Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) Two-week residential summer program designed by Georgetown University scholar-in-residence Dr. Erika Cohen Derr, featuring leadership theory, hands-on practice, workshops, and a speaker series; awards a Certificate of Completion.
• Summer @ Saint Mary's Summer academic program offering semester and yearlong courses for credit acceleration, recovery, or exploration across biology, English, math, history, languages, and more.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Rigorous college-level courses in 21 subjects with 2 course levels and 3 distinctions (Honors, AP, Distinguished Scholars). Saint Mary's earned the Platinum distinction on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll.
• Seminar Program Four-year interdisciplinary program developing 10 Key Competencies through grade-specific curriculum, including the Portfolio for Life digital portfolio, leadership development, and community impact projects.
• College Counseling Personalized college counseling program beginning in 9th grade with dedicated counselors, seminars, and individual meetings; emphasizes self-reflection and authenticity with a 100% college acceptance rate.
• Global Education / Travel Programs National and international travel programs including trips to Japan, Dominican Republic, France, Australia, Literary Ireland and Britain, and Art and History tours of Europe, plus on-campus global education components.
• Triangle Fitness Athletics Program Required co-curricular program of 10 seasons of athletic activity, dance, theatre, or musical performance, including 20 varsity and junior varsity teams across 13 sports.
• Equestrian Center Equestrian program offered in partnership with Mac-Nair's Country Acres, providing riding instruction and horse-related activities.
• Community Service Program Required community service program preparing compassionate servant-leaders, with completion requirements by end of sophomore year for leadership eligibility and by senior year for graduation.
• International Student Program Rolling-admissions program for qualified international students, requiring application, transcript, placement assessment, English proficiency scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, Duolingo), recommendations, and an interview.
• Campus Facilities Rentals Event venue rentals including the historic Chapel (a National Historic Site), Smedes Hall, Chan-Poyner Hall, Bacon Gymnasium, indoor pool, Nimocks Field, and dance studios for weddings and events.
• Seasonal Boarding Add-on option for day students to experience residential life during fall, winter, or spring athletics seasons, allowing participation in up to two sessions per school year.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DREAM Project (Dominican Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService-learning partnership where students partner with DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic to teach STEM lessons, connect with local students, and engage in meaningful cultural exchange. Students participate in hands-on activities at DREAM Centers, explore cacao farms, local communities, and natural environments.
• The Bone and Joint Surgery ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Orthopaedic Practice Partner providing onsite assessments for students and staff every Wednesday after school. Located at raleighboneandjoint.com with contact numbers 919-872-5296 or 919-322-8619.
• NC Courage AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NC FC Youth soccer program allowing Saint Mary's students access to elite athletic training and competitive opportunities.
• Dr. Erika Cohen Derr, Georgetown UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationScholar-in-residence from Georgetown University designed the Young Women's Leadership Institute curriculum, blending leadership theory with hands-on practice. Dr. Cohen Derr has over two decades of experience at Georgetown in student affairs, fostering engagement, leadership, and belonging.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Madeira School: Elite all-girls college-preparatory boarding and day school in McLean, VA, with a strong leadership-development and STEM focus. Directly comparable to Saint Mary's as a same-model girls' boarding school in the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast corridor.
• Miss Porter's School: Highly selective all-girls boarding school in Farmington, CT, with a long heritage and a leadership-focused curriculum. Closely mirrors Saint Mary's as a premium-priced girls' college-prep boarding school targeting similar national and international boarding families.
• Emma Willard School: Historic all-girls boarding and day school in Troy, NY, founded in 1814, with rigorous college-prep academics and signature programs. Directly comparable in mission, pricing tier, and heritage-driven girls' boarding model.
• Chatham Hall: All-girls Episcopal boarding and day school in Chatham, VA, serving grades 9-12 with college-prep academics and a strong leadership/equestrian focus. Highly comparable in Episcopal heritage, single-sex model, and boarding program structure.
• The Hockaday School: Premier all-girls college-preparatory day and boarding school in Dallas, TX, with deep alumnae network and Signature programming. Comparable to Saint Mary's in girls-only college prep with both day and boarding options and a leadership emphasis.
• Garrison Forest School: All-girls boarding and day school in Owings Mills, MD, serving grades K-12 with equestrian and Signature programs. Comparable girls' boarding model with day and boarding options and strong athletics/leadership positioning.
• Dana Hall School: All-girls college-preparatory boarding and day school in Wellesley, MA, serving grades 5-12. Comparable in girls-only college prep with day/boarding options, signature leadership programs, and similar premium tuition positioning.
• Bryn Mawr School: All-girls college-preparatory day school in Baltimore, MD, serving grades K-12 with rigorous academics and Signature leadership programs. Comparable as an elite girls' college-prep school in the same East Coast corridor.

Regional players

• Ashley Hall: Independent college-preparatory day school for girls in Charleston, SC, serving grades K-12. Regional girls' school in the Southeast with similar college-prep mission, though primarily day and not a direct boarding competitor.
• Ravenscroft School: Independent co-ed college-preparatory day school in Raleigh, NC, serving grades K-12 with similar academic rigor and Signature programs. Comparable as a competing premium independent school in the same Raleigh market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SaintMarysNC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SMSRaleigh
• Facebookfacebook.com/sms.edu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/2658752
• Instagraminstagram.com/saintmarysschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@saintmarysschoolusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Saint Mary's School